Otay Mesa detainees throw notes in lotion bottles over fence: "280 days without a single piece of fruit"
Feb 16, 2026 · San Diego, CA

Detainees at the Otay Mesa Detention Center run by CoreCivic threw handwritten notes attached to lotion and deodorant bottles over the facility fence to protesters at weekly vigils outside. Notes described going 280 days without fresh fruit, constant illness, cold temperatures, and living in one large room with no windows. San Diego County supervisors were subsequently denied access to inspect the facility, and the notes stopped after ICE restricted detainees from outdoor recreation time during vigils.
Sources
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