Two California lawmakers conducted an oversight visit on Thursday at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Otay Mesa detention center. This facility has been the subject of various allegations, including concerns related to overcrowding, general conditions, and sexual assaults.
During the inspection, one legislator noted that the facility appeared clean and the food was edible. This lawmaker chose to withhold comment on the sexual assault allegations until discussions could be held with the San Diego County Sheriff’s office, Kelly Martinez. At the time of the visit, the center was reportedly housing 1,037 detainees.
The facility operator, CoreCivic, is also facing a lawsuit from San Diego County health inspectors who claim they were denied access to conduct a state-mandated inspection. A CoreCivic spokesperson affirmed the company's commitment to the safety, health, and well-being of individuals in their care, stating adherence to all applicable federal detention standards. The spokesperson further clarified that all allegations of sexual assault are reported to the San Diego County Sheriff’s office, emphasizing that CoreCivic operates as a facility manager and not a law enforcement agency responsible for criminal investigations.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/02/democrats-ice-detention-center
