Second rideshare driver detained at Camp Pendleton gate raises questions about access and ICE coordination policies

Detention during a pickup attempt

A rideshare driver was detained at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton while attempting to pick up a passenger at one of the installation’s gates, marking the second publicly reported detention involving a rideshare driver at the base in recent weeks.

The driver, identified publicly only by his first name, Rafael, was stopped at the Cristianitos Gate on March 1, 2026 while responding to a rideshare request. He was taken into federal custody and transported to the Otay Mesa Detention Center. His attorney said he holds valid employment authorization and has a pending asylum case.

Earlier detention involved a drop-off

The incident follows a February 23, 2026 case in which another rideshare driver, Assim Alkhawaja, was detained after being stopped at a base gate while dropping off a passenger. Family members said he, too, had employment authorization and no criminal history, and was taken to the Otay Mesa Detention Center after being directed to pull to the side during screening.

In the March case, the driver’s attorney said Rafael entered the U.S. in 2019 on a visa and later filed for asylum, citing fear of persecution if returned to Brazil. The attorney said the case had recently reached an interview stage but remained pending.

What Camp Pendleton says about gate security and interagency presence

Camp Pendleton stated that installation safety is a top priority and that individuals seeking entry must have approved credentials and a valid reason to access the base. The base also said coordination with other law enforcement agencies is longstanding.

The base described the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel at select access points as a force-protection measure intended to improve visibility, coordination, and response times, and stated it is not intended to conduct broad immigration enforcement on the installation.

How rideshare access is structured on the installation

Camp Pendleton maintains written procedures for commercial transportation providers on base, including rideshare services. A Camp Pendleton rideshare “statement of understanding” outlines restrictions such as compliance with federal law on the installation, prohibitions on marijuana possession while on base, limits on photography, and the possibility of vehicle inspections. The same document also lists authorized pickup locations, largely centered on family-housing areas and specific commercial hubs.

Separately, base access guidance describes multiple pathways for lawful entry—such as unescorted access for credentialed affiliates and visitor passes processed through the Visitor Center—reflecting the installation’s layered identity and background-check framework.

Key verified elements now under scrutiny

• Gate screening resulted in two rideshare drivers being detained in a span of roughly two weeks, in separate incidents involving a pickup attempt and a drop-off.

• In both cases, relatives or representatives described the drivers as having employment authorization and pending immigration matters.

• The base has publicly framed interagency coordination at gates as related to access control and force protection rather than broad immigration enforcement.

• Existing written base procedures govern where rideshare pickups may occur and note that drivers may be subject to inspections and other security measures while on the installation.

Rafael was reported to have an immigration court hearing scheduled for March 12, 2026.