California sheriff blocks ICE from firing range, training facilities but keeps CBP access

San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez announced Tuesday that ICE will no longer be allowed to use sheriff's facilities for training or gun qualifications, citing community concerns about the agency's conduct during armed confrontations elsewhere in the country.

Martinez's decision draws a distinction between ICE and U.S.

Customs and Border Protection as county officials move to sever facility agreements with both federal agencies.

The sheriff said she will continue allowing CBP to use the county's Otay Range, warning that removing access could worsen border wait times and hurt the regional economy.

"Community trust and strong relationships are the cornerstone of effective local policing ," Martinez said.

"Our authority to enforce the law depends on the trust and confidence of the communities we serve, and I always balance my decisions based on community trust and public safety." DEM GOVERNOR IN THE HOT SEAT AFTER TESTING LIMITS OF AUTHORITY WITH MAJOR MOVE AGAINST ICE Fox News Digital 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.

MEXICAN NATIONAL FACES FEDERAL CHARGES AFTER CBP FINDS $238K IN FENTANYL INSIDE ELECTRIC MOPED 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 does not have another comparable training option in the area and that available ranges at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar are limited.