Full Breakdown
Investigation of Sexual Assault Allegations at Otay Mesa Detention Center
3/27/2026, 10:23:40 AM
Overview of the Core Event
The Otay Mesa immigration detention center in San Diego County, managed by CoreCivic, has faced scrutiny following reports that at least seven sexual assault allegations went uninvestigated in 2025. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) allows CoreCivic's Warden Christopher LaRose to decide whether to investigate such allegations, raising concerns about the adequacy of oversight and accountability in handling these serious claims.
Background & Context
The Otay Mesa facility, which houses approximately 1,500 federal immigration detainees, operates under a contract with the Department of Homeland Security and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations. The MOU, signed in 2020 by former San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore, delegates the responsibility for investigating sexual assault allegations to CoreCivic, a for-profit prison contractor. This arrangement has come under fire from local officials and advocacy groups, who argue that it undermines the integrity of investigations into serious criminal allegations.
Key Figures & Groups
- CoreCivic: The private contractor managing the Otay Mesa detention center, responsible for administrative investigations of sexual assault allegations.
- San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez: The sheriff has expressed concerns about staffing limitations that hinder the investigation of allegations at the facility.
- Terra Lawson-Remer: Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, who has publicly questioned the appropriateness of the MOU and the delegation of investigative authority to CoreCivic.
- Susan Beaty: Senior attorney with the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice, who criticized the lack of investigations into the reported assaults.
Official Statements & Responses
Sheriff Kelly Martinez acknowledged the challenges her department faces in investigating allegations at facilities not owned by the county, stating, “I completely understand your concern... but I really don’t know how many are occurring.” In response to the allegations, CoreCivic emphasized its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy for sexual abuse, stating that all allegations are recorded and referred to law enforcement when necessary.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics, including Terra Lawson-Remer and Susan Beaty, have expressed deep concern over the MOU that allows a private entity to control investigations into sexual assault allegations. Lawson-Remer described the decision to delegate such authority to CoreCivic as "troubling," while Beaty stated, “We’re horrified but not surprised to learn that numerous sexual assaults went uninvestigated at a CoreCivic facility.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department reported 142 calls for service related to the Otay Mesa facility in 2024, with 14 linked to the Prison Rape Elimination Act, the specifics regarding the nature of these calls and the identities of victims and perpetrators remain unclear. The sheriff's department has withheld additional records, citing them as part of an ongoing law enforcement investigation.
What's Next
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors plans to hold hearings to further investigate the handling of sexual assault allegations at the Otay Mesa detention center and the implications of the MOU with CoreCivic. The county is also engaged in a separate legal battle with CoreCivic regarding access to the facility for public health inspections.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We’re horrified but not surprised to learn that numerous sexual assaults went uninvestigated at a CoreCivic facility,” — Susan Beaty, Senior Attorney, California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice
- “I do not have much confidence at all in CoreCivic’s ability to investigate these very serious allegations,” — Terra Lawson-Remer, Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors
- “Because no criminal investigations were initiated by the Sheriff’s Office, no reports were forwarded to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of charges,” — Lt. David Collins, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department
