Escondido CA — City Council Keeps ICE Firing Range Contract Despite Massive Public Opposition
The Contract
The Department of Homeland Security pays $22,500/year to lease the city-owned Escondido Police Department firing range. ICE agents have trained there since 2014; a formal contract was cemented in 2024 and renewed January 2026 through January 2027 (with options through 2029, total $67,500). The range is used 20 days/year to train 200 special agents in groups of 20.
The Fight (February 2026)
- 2,000+ petition signatures collected since January 22, 2026
- 33 local officials sent letter asking Escondido to cancel
- 5-hour city council meeting on February 26, 2026 — hundreds of residents voiced opposition
- Council decision: Declined to cancel the agreement
Why It Matters
In a sanctuary state, this is the micro-level cooperation that enables federal enforcement. While the dollar amount is small ($22,500), the symbolic and practical implications are significant: it means a California city is providing taxpayer-funded infrastructure for ICE agent training. It illustrates the county-level splits — San Diego County supervisors are suing ICE over detention inspections, while a city within the county actively cooperates.