San Diego, California

Otay Mesa Detention Center (formerly San Diego Contract Detention Facility)

United States

Status

In use

2026

Type: Prison or pretrial detention centre (Criminal)

Custodial Authority: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Management: CoreCivic (Private For-Profit)

Detains: Adult men, Adult women, Criminal detainees (convicted or remand), Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Capacity Deaths at facility Conditions complaints?
750
Yes

7 March 2023

YES

2025

United States

277,913

Migration Detainee Entries

37,722

Average Daily Migrant Detainee Population

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FACILITY NAMES
Otay Mesa Detention Center (formerly San Diego Contract Detention Facility)
Location

Country: United States

City & Region: San Diego, California, Americas

Latitude, Longitude: 32.589635, -116.922308

Contact Information
7488 Calzada de la Fuente San Diego,
CA, 92231 USA
Tel: +1 (619) 661-3823

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
In use
2026
In use
2025
In use
2023
In use
2022
In use
2020
In use
2019
In use
2018
In use
2017
In use
2016
In use
2013
In use
2012
Facility type
Category
Type
Year
Criminal
Prison or pretrial detention centre
2026
Criminal
Prison or pretrial detention centre
2012
National typology
Official Typology
Year
Contract Detention Facility
2023
Contract Detention Facility (CDF)
2022
Contract Detention Facility (CDF)
2013
Management
Management
Type
Year
CoreCivic
Private For-Profit
2023
Corrections Corporation of America
Private For-Profit
2016
Custodial Authorities
Agency
Ministry
Ministry type
Year
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Internal or Public Security
2023
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Department of Homeland Security
Internal or Public Security
2012
Outsourced services and non-state actors
Provider
Service
Year
CoreCivic
Management
2023
Corrections Corporation of America
Management
2016
Northrop Grumman
Security
2013
Northrop Grumman
Facility maintenance
2013
Facility owner
Owner type
Owner name
Year
Government
Office of the Federal Detention Trustee
2017
Area of Operations
Regional Jurisdiction
Year
San Diego Field Office
2023
San Diego Region (SND)
2013
Operating Period
Year of entry
Year ceased
1998

DETAINEES

Demographics

Adult men

2026

Adult women

2026

Adult men

2022

Adult women

2022

Adult men

2016

Adult women

2016
Categories of detainees

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2026

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2023

Criminal detainees (convicted or remand)

2016

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2016

SIZE & POPULATION

Capacity (specialised migration-related facility)

Type Standard capacity

Capacity 750

2022
Capacity Reserved for Migration Detainees (criminal facility)

Number 664

2012
Facility Average Daily Population (year)

Number 1483

2026

Number 718

2022

Number 995

2017

Number 654

2013

Number 668

2012

Number 669

2009

Number 651

2008

Number 746

2007
Total Migration Detainees: Entries + Remaining from Previous Year

Number 3290

2012

Number 2855

2011

Number 24

2010
Reports of Detainee Overpopulation at Facility

Yes

2007

LENGTH OF DETENTION

Detention Timeframe (long, medium, short)

Length Long-term (more than 20 days)

2023

Length Long-term (more than 20 days)

2015
Average Days in Detention

Number of Days 55

2026

Number of Days 50

2022

Number of Days 21

2012

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

Overall Inspection Score

Score Minimum Standards (“Good,” “Acceptable,” or “Meets Standards”)

2024

Score Minimum Standards (“Good,” “Acceptable,” or “Meets Standards”)

2022

Score Minimum Standards (“Good,” “Acceptable,” or “Meets Standards”)

2017

Score Above Standards (“Superior”)

2009

Score Above Standards (“Superior”)

2008

Score Above Standards (“Superior”)

2007
Inadequate conditions
Inadequate Conditions
Obvs. Date
2025
2025
2022
2020
2019
2010
2008
2007

CARCERAL INDICATORS

Carceral Environment

Carceral Environment Yes

2026
External Security Regime

Security Level Secure

2016
Armed External Guards

Armed Guards? Yes

2016

STAFF

Mistreatment Reports

Mistreatment Complaints Yes

2010

Mistreatment Complaints Yes

2009

Mistreatment Complaints Yes

2007

SEGREGATION

Gender Segregation

Gender Segregation Yes

2012

CELLS

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

Outdoor Space

Outdoor Space No

2025

HEALTH

Reports of Deaths
Name of deceased individual
Date of death
Nebane ABIENWI (37)
7 March 2023
Augustina Ramirez-Arreola (62)
1 October 2020
N.A.
7 May 2020
N.A.
26 July 2018
N.A.
3 May 2016
N.A.
2 January 2014
N.A.
3 January 2009
N.A.
2 January 2009
N.A.
2 January 2008
N.A.
26 June 2006
N.A.
1 December 2005
N.A.
3 January 2005
Reports of self-harming
Self harm reported
Incident/Report date
No

MONITORING & ACCESS

TELECOMMUNICATIONS