Case: County of San Diego v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security

3:26-cv-01520 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

Filed Date: March 10, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case is a challenge to CoreCivic’s refusal to allow the County of San Diego to perform a health and safety inspection of the Otay Mesa Detention Center. On March 10, 2026, the County of San Diego sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), CoreCivic, Inc., and their respective leadership in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The plaintiffs challenged the defendants’ refusal to allow them to conduct a sta…

This case is a challenge to CoreCivic’s refusal to allow the County of San Diego to perform a health and safety inspection of the Otay Mesa Detention Center.

On March 10, 2026, the County of San Diego sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), CoreCivic, Inc., and their respective leadership in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The plaintiffs challenged the defendants’ refusal to allow them to conduct a state-authorized health and safety inspection at the Otay Mesa Detention Center. According to the complaint, federal officials blocked local health officers from completing a scheduled site visit in February 2026 despite earlier approvals. The County argued that this refusal violated the Administrative Procedure Act and interfered with state-authorized oversight duties intended to protect detainees and the community. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief for access to inspect the facility, reversal of the defendants’ exclusionary decision, and expenses incurred, including attorneys’ fees.

On March 13, 2026, the plaintiffs filed a motion for a preliminary injunction. The motion requested that the court preliminarily enjoin defendants from interfering with the plaintiffs’ right to conduct a health and safety inspection of the Otay Mesa Detention Facility.

This case is in the early stages of litigation, and briefing on the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction is pending as of April 2026.

Summary Authors

Sofia Yoder (4/20/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72418655/parties/county-of-san-diego-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/

Attorney for Plaintiff

Brown, Damon M. (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Boutelle, Betsey (California)

CV, U S (California)

Keene, Dana M. (California)

Mahoney, Matthew Miguel (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Brown, Damon M. (California)

Masterson, Michael Paul (California)

Stotland, David Meir (California)

Attorney for Defendant

Boutelle, Betsey (California)

CV, U S (California)

Keene, Dana M. (California)

Mahoney, Matthew Miguel (California)

Orcutt, Anne M. (California)

Struck, Daniel P (California)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 3:26-cv-01520	Complaint for Injunctive and Declaratory Relief to Enforce State-Authorized Health and Safety Inspection Rights	March 10, 2026	March 10, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72418655/county-of-san-diego-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/

Last updated April 21, 2026, 12:51 p.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	March 10, 2026	COMPLAINT against CoreCivic, Inc., Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ACASDC-20879449.), filed by County of San Diego. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)The new case number is 3:26-cv-1520-JES-MSB. Judge James E. Simmons, Jr. and Magistrate Judge Michael S. Berg are assigned to the case. (Masterson, Michael)(dde) (anh). (Entered: 03/11/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	March 11, 2026	Summons Issued. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should print this summons and serve it in accordance with Rule 4, Fed.R.Civ.P and LR 4.1. (dde) (anh). (Entered: 03/11/2026)	RECAP
3	March 13, 2026	MOTION for Preliminary Injunction by County of San Diego. (Attachments: # 1 Memo of Points and Authorities, # 2 Declaration Declaration and Exhibits, # 3 Proof of Service)(Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 03/13/2026) 1 Memo of Points and Authorities View on PACER 2 Declaration Declaration and Exhibits View on PACER 3 Proof of Service View on PACER	RECAP
4	March 16, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by County of San Diego. U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California served. (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 03/16/2026)	RECAP
5	March 19, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by County of San Diego. CoreCivic, Inc. served. (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 03/19/2026)	RECAP
6	March 19, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by County of San Diego. Kristi Noem served. (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 03/19/2026)	RECAP
7	March 19, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by County of San Diego. Todd Lyons served. (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 03/19/2026)	RECAP
8	March 19, 2026	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by County of San Diego re 3 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction to U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 03/19/2026)	RECAP
9	March 19, 2026	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by County of San Diego re 3 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction to CORECIVIC INC. (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 03/19/2026)	RECAP
10	March 20, 2026	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by County of San Diego re 3 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction to Kristi Noem U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 03/20/2026)	RECAP
11	March 23, 2026	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by County of San Diego re 3 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction to Kristi Noem at U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 03/23/2026)	RECAP
12	March 24, 2026	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by County of San Diego re 3 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction for Todd Lyons - U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 03/24/2026)	RECAP
13	March 27, 2026	Ex Parte MOTION to Continue Deadline to File Responses to Plaintiff's Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Dkt. 3) by CoreCivic, Inc. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Dana M. Keene)(Keene, Dana)Attorney Dana M. Keene added to party CoreCivic, Inc. (pty:dft) (maq). (Entered: 03/27/2026)	RECAP
14	March 27, 2026	Request to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee received: $ 224 receipt number ACASDC-20958559.)(Application to be reviewed by Clerk.) (Struck, Daniel)(jrd) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	RECAP
15	March 27, 2026	Request to Appear Pro Hac Vice (Filing fee received: $ 224 receipt number ACASDC-20958591.)(Application to be reviewed by Clerk.) (Orcutt, Anne)(jrd) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	RECAP
16	March 27, 2026	PRO HAC APPROVED: Anne M. Orcutt, Daniel P. Struck appearing for Defendant CoreCivic, Inc. (no document attached) (jrd) (Entered: 03/27/2026)	RECAP
	March 27, 2026	Pro Hac Vice Approved - Clerk
17	March 30, 2026	ORDER Granting in Part Defendant's Ex Parte Motion to Continue Deadline to Respond to Motion for Preliminary Injunction [ECF No. 13 ]. Responses due by 4/15/2026; Replies due by 4/22/2026. Motion Hearing reset to 5/6/2026 11:00 AM before District Judge James E. Simmons Jr. Signed by District Judge James E. Simmons, Jr on 3/30/2026. (maq) (Entered: 03/30/2026)	RECAP
18	April 1, 2026	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by County of San Diego re 3 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction to U.S. Attorney General (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 04/01/2026)	RECAP
19	April 1, 2026	CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by County of San Diego re 3 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 04/01/2026)	RECAP
20	April 3, 2026	Joint MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer by CoreCivic, Inc. (Orcutt, Anne) (maq). (Entered: 04/03/2026)	RECAP
21	April 7, 2026	ORDER Granting Joint Motion to Extend [ECF No. 20 ]. CoreCivic, Inc. answer due 5/19/2026. Signed by District Judge James E. Simmons, Jr on 4/7/2026. (maq) (Entered: 04/07/2026)	RECAP
22	April 13, 2026	** DOCUMENT WITHDRAWN PER ECF 24 ** SUMMONS Returned Executed by County of San Diego. U.S. Attorney General served. (Masterson, Michael) Modified on 4/14/2026 to send QC Email re: Document not captioned; should have been an attachment / withdraw and refile (maq). Modified on 4/15/2026 to withdraw (maq). (Entered: 04/13/2026)	RECAP
23	April 13, 2026	** DOCUMENT WITHDRAWN PER ECF 24 ** SUMMONS Returned Executed by County of San Diego. Todd Lyons served. (Masterson, Michael) Modified on 4/14/2026 to send QC Email re: Document not captioned; should have been an attachment / withdraw and refile (maq). Modified on 4/15/2026 to withdraw (maq). (Entered: 04/13/2026)	RECAP
24	April 14, 2026	NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF DOCUMENT 22, 23 by County of San Diego re 22 Summons Returned Executed filed by County of San Diego, 23 Summons Returned Executed filed by County of San Diego . (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 04/14/2026)	RECAP
25	April 14, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by County of San Diego. U.S. Attorney General served. (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 04/14/2026)	RECAP
26	April 14, 2026	SUMMONS Returned Executed by County of San Diego. Todd Lyons served. (Masterson, Michael) (maq). (Entered: 04/14/2026)	RECAP
27	April 15, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Betsey Boutelle on behalf of Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Boutelle, Betsey)Attorney Betsey Boutelle added to party Todd Lyons(pty:dft), Attorney Betsey Boutelle added to party Kristi Noem(pty:dft), Attorney Betsey Boutelle added to party U.S. Department of Homeland Security(pty:dft), Attorney Betsey Boutelle added to party U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(pty:dft) (maq). (Entered: 04/15/2026)	RECAP
28	April 15, 2026	RESPONSE in Opposition re 3 MOTION for Preliminary Injunction filed by Todd Lyons, Kristi Noem, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Warden C. LaRose with Attachments A through L, # 2 Declaration of Chad E. Torres with Exhibits 1 and 2)(Boutelle, Betsey) (maq). (Entered: 04/15/2026)	RECAP
29	April 15, 2026	NOTICE of Joinder by CoreCivic, Inc. re 28 Response in Opposition to Motion, (Orcutt, Anne) (maq). (Entered: 04/15/2026)	RECAP

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Case Details

State / Territory:

California

Case Type(s):

Prison Conditions

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 10, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

The County of San Diego

Plaintiff Type(s):

City/County Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

CoreCivic, Inc.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Defendant Type(s):

Corrections

Jurisdiction-wide

Law-enforcement

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Other Dockets:

Southern District of California 3:26-cv-01520

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Relief Granted:

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Conditions of confinement

Immigration/Border:

Detention - conditions

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of County of San Diego v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/47889/ (last updated 4/20/2026).