Report from Escondido Indivisible on February 25, 2026 Council Meeting Resulting in the Continuation of the ICE Firing Range Contract

In spite of hundreds of residents giving over four hours of heartfelt and informed testimony, Mayor Dane White, Councilmember Joe Garcia, Christian Garcia, and Judy Fitzgerald sided with ICE over their own constituents. They sided with fear over care.

Hundreds of students and residents rallied at the police station, Escondido City Hall, and chamber overflows were filled beyond capacity. Still, the Council Majority chose to ignore the very people they were elected to protect.

Only one of our elected city officials, Consuelo Martinez, truly supports and cares about the residents of our city.  She was the only one who held compassion for the community and tried to act to protect us.

Mayor Dane White failed to support a motion to cancel (made by Councilwoman Martinez) due to specious technical excuses. He was visibly angry that other elected officials in the region urged cancellation of this contract in order to protect the safety of their residents, something White was unwilling to do.  White is up for re-election in November.

Councilmember Joe Garcia was clearly afraid, stated no position, and failed to support the motion to cancel the contract apparently due to his concerns over retaliation from the Trump Administration—choosing fear over his own constituents and congregants. Garcia is up for re-election in November.

Councilmember Christian Garcia refused to acknowledge hard data put before him that HSI (the ICE agents who will be using the range) have been re-directed to immigration enforcement actions.

Councilmember Fitzgerald was predictably tone-deaf to the concerns of residents by reading definitions of the law so heartlessly many wondered if she had even heard the testimony.

Chief Plunkett, new to Escondido as Police Chief, defended the contract without a single concern or reflection of the community concern. He clearly demonstrated he is disinterested in the relationship between the EPD and the community and unconcerned about undermining the community trust built over the past ten years.

The community, who came and spoke for hours in good faith, were stunned and outraged. It was clear the past racist and exclusionary history of Escondido continues in the present.

Future community meetings and events will be held to oppose this contract and the people will attempt to secure the safety of Escondido, now that the elected officials and police leadership will not. All events will continue, like they did during the meeting, in accordance with our peaceful protest protocols.

Escondido Indivisible would like to express gratitude and honor all of the youth, mothers, fathers, siblings, teachers, residents, regional elected officials, faith leaders, business owners, and allied organizations who showed up in droves and spoke out for care of our families and neighbors. It is a shame that the majority did not hear us.

Escondido Indivisible filed public records act request last week for information about communications between city, police, and immigration enforcement related to this situation.

We know this contract must eventually end because we believe the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. Escondido Indivisible will continue to fight for justice and safety for all our communities and will continue to demand accountability from our leaders in power.

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