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NewsTimes of San DiegoOctober 28, 2026San Diego County

San Diego County supervisors demand transparency following a detainee death at the Otay Mesa Detention Center

Photo: Times of San Diego

County supervisors demanded full cooperation and transparency from federal immigration authorities and CoreCivic following the death of a detained migrant at the Otay Mesa Detention Center. Supervisors Paloma Aguirre and Lawson-Remer sent a letter to federal officials requesting medical records, investigation access, and corrective actions by November 10. The facility, operated by private contractor CoreCivic, has previously faced county health inspections and lawsuits regarding oversight and medical conditions.

ImmigrationPublic HealthPublic SafetyGovernment Accountability
Read the full story at Times of San Diego

Why It Matters

Local officials and federal agencies are locked in an ongoing dispute over health inspections and oversight at a major regional immigration detention facility holding individuals whose medical care and safety are now under official review.

Key Facts

  • A detained migrant was found unresponsive at the Otay Mesa Detention Center shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and was pronounced dead at the facility.
  • CoreCivic stated that medical staff initiated resuscitation efforts and called emergency services, but the person was declared dead before being transferred.
  • San Diego County supervisors Paloma Aguirre and Lawson-Remer held a press conference demanding transparency, cooperation with county investigators, and continued health inspections.
  • Supervisors sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and acting ICE director David Venturella requesting a response by November 10.
  • The county's demands include autopsy cooperation, preservation of records, detailed medical timelines, and ongoing access for county health inspectors.
  • The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy on Monday, though the official cause of death has not been released.
  • The county previously sued ICE and obtained a federal court order allowing a June inspection, which identified issues including delayed reporting of suspected tuberculosis cases and medical equipment delays.
  • In September, the county issued a notice of noncompliance after a potential tuberculosis case allegedly went unreported for about three weeks.
  • The ACLU reported that at least 57 people have died under immigration custody in the U.S. since the start of the current presidential term.
  • A Human Rights Watch report from June stated that ICE detention mortality rates reached their highest level in over a decade.

Who's Mentioned

PersonMarkwayne Mullin“Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security”PersonPaloma Aguirre“San Diego County supervisor”OrganizationCoreCivic“Private company operating the Otay Mesa Detention Center”PersonDavid Venturella“Acting director of ICE”OrganizationDepartamento de Seguridad Nacional“U.S. federal department overseeing immigration enforcement”OrganizationHuman Rights Watch“Organization publishing reports on ICE detention mortality rates”OrganizationServicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas“U.S. federal immigration agency”PersonTerra Lawson-Remer“San Diego County supervisor”OrganizationOficina del Médico Forense del Condado de San Diego“County office that performed an autopsy on the deceased detainee”OrganizationUnión Americana de Libertades Civiles“Civil rights organization tracking custody deaths”