Federal immigration officials today blocked San Diego County from fully exercising its lawful public health authority at the Otay Mesa Detention Facility, after initially clearing County officials to enter.

The County’s Public Health Officer was allowed into the facility to begin what would have been the first comprehensive public health inspection of a federal immigration detention center in California. However, he was informed that ICE would not permit access to routine and critical components of the inspection — including review of medical records and confidential interviews with detainees — steps required to complete a lawful public health evaluation.

Later, when County Supervisors who had been previously cleared to enter arrived at the facility, they were denied access altogether. Local ICE officials informed them that while entry had been approved, national ICE leadership had reversed the decision.

Under California law, county public health officers have clear authority to inspect custodial facilities within their jurisdiction to ensure compliance with state health and sanitation standards, including medical access, communicable disease control, food safety, and hygiene protections. That authority applies to facilities operating within county boundaries.

“We are preparing to file suit to enforce California’s public health authority,” said San Diego County Chair Terra Lawson-Remer. “Our Public Health Officer was admitted but blocked from performing essential inspection duties, and access that had been formally cleared was later revoked. Federal officials do not have the power to nullify state public health law.”

“Despite receiving official clearance from both ICE and CoreCivic, we were inexplicably denied entry to the Otay Mesa Detention Center. This sudden reversal is not only a breach of protocol but a blatant attempt to obstruct transparency. When a facility prevents authorized oversight, it raises a chilling question: What are they so desperate to hide from the public eye?”

County officials are reviewing immediate legal remedies to enforce inspection authority and ensure compliance with California public health law.

Further updates will follow as legal action proceeds.