San Diego reps inspect conditions for immigrants at Otay Mesa Detention Center

Congressional representatives for San Diego County conducted an oversight visit of the Otay Mesa Detention Center Thursday, where more than 1,000 immigrants are detained under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. 

Their visit comes after both federal and local elected officials made multiple attempts in February to inspect the privately run detention center but were turned away. 

As the Trump administration detains a record number of immigrants across the country, reports of unsanitary conditions, poor medical care and, in some cases, abuse have raised concerns for lawmakers. Since January, 14 immigrants have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, custody. 

Reps. Sara Jacobs and Mike Levin, both Democrats, gave the facility advanced notice of their visit. They toured the medical facility, cafeteria, commissary, courtrooms, holding area, chapel and library. 

They hoped to address concerns they had received about detainees’ access to medical care and food inside the facility, among other issues, but they noted that what they saw during their announced visit may not be what most detainees experience. 

“We know that they clean up for us to come, and we think it’s important to still show up,” Jacobs said, adding that they plan to do an additional unannounced visit in the future. 

Levin said they spoke with the medical director of the facility, who said they have a staff of 13 people, including two doctors, and that they plan to hire one more. Levin also said that nearly half of the immigrants detained there received some type of medication and that the cleanliness of the facilities was “roughly on par” with civilian facilities. 

“I believe that they’re doing the best that they can with the staff that they have and the circumstances that they find themselves in,” Levin said.  

Levin also sampled the cafeteria food, which he said was “relatively fresh and edible.” 

Jacobs said they had requested but were not able to interview immigrant detainees due to time constraints, and were only offered the opportunity when they had 10 minutes in the visit remaining. 

The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately return a request for comment. 

Earlier this year, Sen. Alex Padilla and Congressman Juan Vargas were, on separate occasions, denied entry into the facility when trying to conduct oversight. 

The Department of Homeland Security has insisted that federal lawmakers give seven days’ notice before their inspection – a policy that congressmembers in other parts of the country have challenged in court. A federal judge temporarily suspended the policy in March.

Local officials have also taken an interest in oversight of the Otay Mesa Detention Facility – and have met similar challenges.

San Diego County, under an effort led by supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Paloma Aguirre, is suing the Department of Homeland Security for access to the facility after the supervisors were turned away from conducting a public health inspection in February. 

The supervisors argue that a 2024 state law gives them the authority to conduct such inspections at private detention facilities. 

So far this fiscal year, Otay Mesa Detention has held an average of about 1,500 immigrants per day. About 82% have no criminal convictions, according to data from ICE.