ESCONDIDO — The Escondido Police Department is facing criticism over its contract with the Department of Homeland Security that allows federal immigration agents to train at a police-owned shooting range along Valley Center Road.
The contract, first reported by news outlet L.A. Taco, was most recently approved on Jan. 15 and extends until January of 2027 for a total of $22,500, with the potential for an additional extension to 2029 and up to $67,500, according to usaspending.gov.
The contract allows DHS to lease the shooting range near the border of Escondido and Valley Center for the training of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The agency specifically uses the range “for agents to meet required qualifications to achieve their mission when conducting investigations.”
In a statement, Mayor Dane White said the contract was approved administratively by the police department and did not go before the City Council for a decision.
“It was not voted on by the Escondido City Council, nor were we aware,” White said. “While the Escondido Police Department routinely trains with law enforcement partners at the local, state, and federal levels, the department remains fully compliant with SB 54 and does not participate in or cooperate with immigration enforcement.”
Many residents, as well as elected city leaders, were shocked to discover that the city had been contracting with DHS to use the facility since 2014. Over the weekend, a group held a protest in Escondido calling for the city to cancel the contract.
Some people argue that the contract violates Senate Bill 54, which forbids local police departments from using local resources to assist in federal immigration enforcement.
Councilmember Consuelo Martinez, who was elected in 2018, said in a social media statement that she was not aware of the contract and does not support immigration agents’ presence in Escondido.
“Since learning this, I’ve raised my concerns with the Chief of Police and City Manager. I still have limited details about the current contract,” Martinez said. “I understand the community’s outrage. I share the concern—and I want to be clear: I want ICE and Border Patrol out of Escondido. Our City resources should not support agencies that operate without transparency or accountability and cause harm in our communities.
“I will continue pushing for transparency, oversight, and accountability. Our community deserves nothing less,” she continued.
Amid community concerns, White confirmed that the City Council will discuss contracts related to the EPD shooting range on Feb. 25.
Under the Escondido city code, contracts must go before the City Council only if they exceed a certain cost; otherwise, they can be approved administratively. Department heads, including the police chief, can approve and execute contracts up to $75,000.
Escondido is one of several cities in the area where community members have pushed back against increased immigration enforcement over the past year. The city also saw the most ICE arrests in 2025 among North County cities, according to a Voice of San Diego analysis.
Over half of the city’s population is Hispanic or Latino, and the city depends heavily on immigrant workers in agriculture, construction, hospitality, and service industries.
While the Trump administration has stated that it is targeting violent criminals with its enforcement, data from the Deportation Data Project indicates that the majority of arrestees have had no criminal record.
Elected leaders in neighboring cities have also called on Escondido to end their contract with DHS, including San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and Vista City Councilmember Corinna Contreras, both of whom are running for the redrawn 48th Congressional Seat.
“This contract needs to be canceled. This is not keeping our community safe,” Contreras said, speaking on social media from a protest in Escondido on Sunday. “We need to see the violence from ICE be defunded immediately.”
Von Wilpert cited federal agents’ recent fatal shootings of two residents in Minneapolis over the past few weeks — Renee Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24 — which have sparked nationwide protests.
“Escondido approved a contract letting ICE agents train with weapons on city property. After Minnesota, this is unacceptable,” Von Wilpert said. “Local cities should protect our communities — not help train ICE to open fire.”
1 comment
Let them train, and it’s time to ban Sanctuary State and City designations.
There were hardly any sanctuary cities and counties back when Obama was in the WH.
ICE just picked them up directly from the county jails. They did not need to track them down on the street. ICE would would not have to be so active on the street level if custody detainers were honored like they were during the Obama admin.
Lay the blame where it actually belongs. Leftist politicians.
ICE needs to remove the quota’s and give those who arrived during the last 5 years 30 days to leave the Country and then go after them if they didn’t leave. IMO.
Guess who was the head of ICE under Obama?
Tom Homan.
Same guy