Regional elected officials urge Escondido to end ICE firing-range contract as council reviews agreement
Contract for federal training use of a city police range becomes a regional flashpoint
Escondido is facing coordinated pressure from regional elected officials and local residents to end a contract that allows federal immigration agents to train at a city-owned police firing range, an arrangement that officials say has existed for more than a decade and was formalized through a more recent agreement.
The dispute centers on a facility-use contract between the Escondido Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) training days at the outdoor range on Valley Center Road. The current agreement has been described by city and police officials as a lease for space rather than a joint training program, with Escondido officers not participating in instruction.
What the agreement provides
Publicly reported contract details indicate the city receives $22,500 per year under terms that can total up to three years. The arrangement allows federal agents to use the range on scheduled days; reported figures include up to 20 training days and up to 200 agents per year, typically in smaller groups. Escondido police have stated that other law enforcement agencies also use the range and that each agency conducts its own training under its own supervision.
City officials have also said the contract falls under administrative thresholds that do not automatically require City Council approval, contributing to internal controversy over how widely it was known among elected leaders before public attention increased in early 2026.
Regional officials’ request and local response
In the days ahead of a City Council review scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, a letter signed by dozens of local and regional officials asked Escondido to cancel the contract. The letter argues that the city cannot control what federal agents may do while commuting to and from the range and that the agreement could affect public trust beyond Escondido’s borders.
Separately, residents have organized repeated demonstrations and an online petition seeking cancellation of the agreement and a commitment not to renew similar arrangements in the future. Some residents have stated they are concerned that the presence of federal immigration agents in connection with city facilities could discourage immigrants from reporting crimes or cooperating with local law enforcement.
How the issue intersects with California law and local governance
California law limits how local law enforcement can assist federal immigration enforcement. Escondido officials have maintained that the range agreement complies with state restrictions because it does not involve Escondido officers participating in immigration enforcement or training activities; it is framed as a facility rental. Critics, including some elected officials, argue that even a space-sharing arrangement can carry broader public-safety and accountability implications.
Key points at a glance
- Location: Escondido Police Department firing range on Valley Center Road.
- Purpose: Facility use for ICE training days; Escondido police say there is no cross-training.
- Reported payment: $22,500 per year, with terms described as extending up to three years.
- Timing: City Council review planned for Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026.
Residents and elected officials opposing the contract have focused on public trust, oversight, and community impacts; city and police representatives have emphasized the agreement’s limited scope as a paid facility-use arrangement.
The City Council’s review is expected to clarify whether Escondido can or will terminate the current agreement and what standards it will apply to similar contracts involving city law-enforcement facilities.