No action taken on Escondido shooting range after community voices ICE concerns
After nearly five hours of often emotional public comment Wednesday, a majority of the Escondido City Council let stand a contract with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to use a city-owned shooting range.
The department uses the facility to train officers in Homeland Security Investigations, which is a division of ICE.
The council heard from hundreds of speakers who said they want ICE out of Escondido, citing immigration enforcement sometimes using deadly tactics in other cities.
DHS has used the firing range since 2013.
Wednesday’s meeting was scheduled as a briefing for the council. District 1 Councilmember Consuelo Martinez moved to cancel the contract, but her motion was not seconded. Some other council members expressed concern about the potential consequences of canceling the contract, including possible retaliation from the Trump administration.
The department uses the facility to train officers in Homeland Security Investigations, which is a division of ICE.
The council heard from hundreds of speakers who said they want ICE out of Escondido, citing immigration enforcement sometimes using deadly tactics in other cities.
DHS has used the firing range since 2013.
Wednesday’s meeting was scheduled as a briefing for the council. District 1 Councilmember Consuelo Martinez moved to cancel the contract, but her motion was not seconded. Some other council members expressed concern about the potential consequences of canceling the contract, including possible retaliation from the Trump administration.
