San Diego County supervisors blocked from Otay Mesa ICE detention inspection, escalating legal and oversight conflict

Supervisors say scheduled inspection was approved, then abruptly denied

San Diego County supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre said federal officials prevented them from entering the Otay Mesa Detention Center on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, despite what they described as prior written clearance for a public health inspection. The facility, located in the Otay Mesa area near the U.S.-Mexico border, is operated by private contractor CoreCivic under a federal immigration detention contract.

The supervisors said the denial occurred after county officials arrived for the planned inspection. They stated they were told local staff had initially approved the visit, but the decision was reversed by higher-level federal officials. Aguirre said agents threatened arrest during the standoff at the facility.

County public health officer’s entry was allowed but described as limited

The supervisors said the county’s public health officer, Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan, was permitted to enter the facility earlier the same day. However, they said the access granted was restricted to select areas, including the kitchen and medical spaces.

They also said the health officer was not allowed to review medical records, examine internal policies and procedures, or speak with detainees in general population housing areas. The supervisors argued those limits prevented the county from completing a meaningful inspection of health and sanitary conditions.

Legal authority cited under a recently amended California statute

County officials have pointed to a change in California law that took effect Jan. 1, 2025, updating Health and Safety Code Section 101045 to allow county health officers to investigate health and sanitary conditions in private detention facilities as they determine necessary. The statute also requires submission of an inspection report to the county board of supervisors and other recipients.

Lawson-Remer said the county intends to pursue litigation over what she characterized as interference with lawful oversight. The dispute highlights a developing legal question: how state and local public health inspection powers apply in practice to privately run detention facilities operating under federal contracts.

Oversight access disputes have widened beyond county government

The confrontation follows other recent disputes over access to the Otay Mesa facility by elected officials seeking to conduct oversight visits. In early February, U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas said he was denied entry during an attempted visit and was considering legal action.

At the same time, some federal lawmakers have described growing restrictions on detention facility access requirements, including advance notice expectations and the ability of federal officials to cancel or reschedule visits. Separately, a group of Democratic lawmakers has pursued litigation over access to immigration detention sites, arguing that federal law provides inspection rights.

Conditions allegations and company response

The county’s inspection push has unfolded amid allegations from detainees and advocates about living conditions at Otay Mesa, including concerns related to medical care, temperature, food quality and crowding. In recent weeks, county officials have cited reports that handwritten messages were thrown over the facility’s perimeter fence as a signal of deteriorating conditions.

CoreCivic has said it welcomes local inspections and is cooperating with applicable requirements, and has stated that health and safety are priorities at its ICE-contracted facilities. The company has also pointed to ongoing federal reviews and audits, and to external accreditation for correctional health care standards.

• Date of denied supervisor entry: Feb. 20, 2026
• Facility: Otay Mesa Detention Center, privately operated under federal immigration detention contract
• Key issue: scope of access for local public health inspections and elected-official oversight visits

The dispute now centers on whether local public health inspection authority can be exercised with full access at a facility operating under a federal detention mission.