San Diego County Supervisors Vote to End Federal Immigration Training Contracts at Local Firing Ranges
San Diego County supervisors voted 3-2 to terminate contracts allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to train at county-owned and leased firing ranges. The decision was driven by concerns over the administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement and the impact of federal agents on local communities. Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer and Supervisor Paloma Aguirre led the move, arguing that the county should not be complicit in a deportation campaign that has led to deadly clashes and family separations. They noted that the agreements were executed administratively without public input. Conversely, CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott criticized the move as reckless, warning that it would force 1,700 officers to train outside the region, potentially increasing wait times at local ports of entry and the San Diego International Airport. While Sheriff Kelly Martinez advocated for maintaining the agreements to ensure officer readiness, the board sought to distance local resources from the administration's enforcement tactics. The county aims to preserve community trust by ensuring public assets serve all residents rather than just federal operations.