Democrats Expose Humanitarian Crisis at For-Profit ICE Detention Center
Congressional visit reveals alleged abuse and neglect at Otay Mesa facility amid rising detention rates under Trump's policies.

San Diego, CA – In a stark illustration of the human cost of escalating immigration enforcement, California Representatives Mike Levin and Sara Jacobs, both Democrats, conducted a crucial oversight visit to the Otay Mesa Detention Center, a for-profit facility run by CoreCivic, on Thursday, April 2, 2026. The visit comes at a time when the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign has driven the number of immigrants detained to over 68,000, a shocking increase from the 42,000 at the end of the Biden administration. This surge in detention underscores the moral implications of prioritizing punitive immigration measures over human rights.
Representative Levin, armed with the newly secured right to conduct unannounced visits following a federal court ruling, expressed his determination to ensure “basic human dignity is being adhered to” within the facility. The Otay Mesa Detention Center, located near the US-Mexico border, has a capacity of 1,500 detainees and has long been plagued by allegations of overcrowding, poor conditions, and sexual assault. This visit shines a light on the systemic issues inherent in for-profit detention centers, which prioritize profit over the well-being of vulnerable populations.
Levin's concerns encompass a wide range of critical needs, including access to adequate medical care, nutritious food, uninterrupted sleep, family visitation, and legal counsel. These are not merely amenities, but fundamental human rights that are allegedly being violated at Otay Mesa. The reported difficulties detainees face in accessing and signing privacy waiver paperwork further obstructs their ability to seek Congressional assistance, highlighting the bureaucratic barriers hindering justice.
The lawmakers' tour of the medical facilities, dining hall, courtrooms, and commissary revealed a superficial cleanliness and “edible” food, but these observations do little to address the underlying concerns about the quality of care and the overall dehumanizing conditions. The presence of over 1,000 detainees, largely clad in blue uniforms indicating no serious criminal histories, underscores the disproportionate impact of current immigration policies on individuals who pose no threat to public safety. The fact that people are being detained at all, rather than being supported through community-based alternatives, reflects a broken system driven by xenophobia and private profit.
The most disturbing allegations involve reports of rape and sexual assault at the detention center, as highlighted in a recent CalMatters report. The fact that the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office reportedly declined to investigate seven claims, allowing Otay Mesa staff to handle the cases instead, raises serious questions about accountability and the potential for cover-ups. Levin’s decision to consult with Sheriff Kelly Martinez before commenting further suggests the gravity of the situation and the need for a thorough and independent investigation.


