There’s no award for getting the wrong information out first: Chris Clem on Houston ICE shooting
Trace Gallagher recently brought attention to an alarming event narrated by US Attorney Aaron Reitz involving a Houston ICE vehicle. The incident described a driver recklessly shifting gears while an officer was partially inside the van, raising severe concerns about agent safety. Retired Border Patrol Chief Chris Clem elaborated on the inherent dangers faced by federal agents, underscoring that such “assaultive responses” during vehicle stops are exceptionally hazardous. Clem reminded us that for law enforcement officers, no day offers routine safety, as the threat to their lives is ever-present.
On Tuesday, San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez declared that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would no longer be permitted to use the county’s sheriff facilities for training exercises or firearms qualification. This decision stems from rising community concerns over ICE’s conduct during armed confrontations across different regions of the nation.
Sheriff Martinez clarified her stance by differentiating ICE from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as local officials aim to terminate facility use agreements with both federal bodies. While Martinez plans to continue granting CBP access to the county’s Otay Range, she cautioned that revoking this access might lead to longer border wait times and negatively impact the local economy.
“Fostering community trust and maintaining robust relationships are essential for effective local law enforcement,” Martinez asserted. “The legitimacy of our legal authority hinges on the trust and confidence placed in us by the communities we protect. My choices are always guided by a balance between public safety and maintaining that essential trust.”
San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez proudly participated in the Independence Day Parade in Coronado, California, on July 4, 2025. On August 18, 2026, she formally announced her decision to prevent ICE from utilizing sheriff’s facilities for training and gun qualifications. (Daniel Knighton/Getty Images)
News Media reached out to ICE for comment on Martinez’s decision and asked whether the change could affect its training or operations.
The move comes as the San Diego County Board of Supervisors has directed the county’s chief administrative officer to have the Department of General Services terminate lease agreements with both ICE and CBP.
Martinez, however, opposes cutting off CBP’s access. She said she spent the past two weeks speaking with community stakeholders and concluded that doing so could affect commerce, workers and traffic throughout the border region.
More than 225,000 people enter the U.S. through San Diego ports of entry each day, including more than 90,000 vehicles, 50,000 pedestrians and 5,500 commercial trucks, according to figures provided by the sheriff’s office. Border wait times generally run between one and three hours, the department said.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recruiter Gabriel Montanez helps a man fill out an application during a CBP and Border Patrol recruitment event at a public library in El Paso, Texas, U.S., September 25, 2025. REUTERS/Paul Ratje
CBP officers are required to complete classroom instruction and gun-range qualifications as part of their training. Martinez argued that losing access to nearby facilities could pull officers away from ports of entry for longer periods, leaving fewer personnel available to staff inspection lanes.
The sheriff’s office said CBP currently does not have another comparable training option in the area and that available ranges at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar are limited.
News Media reached out to CBP for comment on Martinez’s concerns and asked whether losing access to the Otay Range could affect staffing or wait times at area ports of entry.
Martinez also warned that longer border waits could hurt commerce and increase pollution from idling vehicles. The effects could extend to Imperial County because some CBP officers there use the Otay Range for training, according to the sheriff’s office.
TIJUANA, MEXICO – FEBRUARY 6: National Guard officers install a checkpoint to inspect motorists before crossing into the United States at San Ysidro Port of Entry on February 6, 2025 in Tijuana, Mexico. President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum announced the deployment of 10,000 troops along the Mexico-US border as part of an agreement with Trump’s administration to delay a 25% increase of tariffs on exported goods. (Francisco Vega/Getty Images)
News Media reached out to San Diego County for comment on Martinez’s concerns and the rationale for seeking to end CBP’s use of county facilities.
“Too many people on both sides of the border would be harmed by a decision to end CBP’s use of the facility,” Martinez said. “As Sheriff, I have a duty to protect and serve everyone who lives in or enters San Diego County.”
The sheriff’s office said it is exploring future training options.