Editor's note: Interviews available upon request, please contact Ashley Weaver to arrange. Contact information below.
Media Statement
Re: County Board of Supervisors’ Positive Vote on Temporary Migrant Shelter Site
Today, the County Board of Supervisors voted to use a County-owned facility as a temporary migrant shelter to house legal, initially processed asylum-seeking families being released into San Diego by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Since early November, the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN), a coalition of human rights, service and faith-based organizations, has provided more than 5,200 migrants – mostly families with young children – with critical humanitarian and transportation assistance.
With secured funding from Jewish Family Service of San Diego (a core partner of SDRRN) to pay for the ongoing operation, maintenance and upkeep of the facility, the County will not bear any financial burden in providing the site.
“We are pleased to see the County step up and provide proactive solutions to address the humanitarian crisis facing our community,” said Michael Hopkins, CEO of Jewish Family Service. “Today’s vote will help house asylum-seeking families until they can safely travel to their final destinations, and ensure our homeless population does not grow even larger with the addition of migrant families released from ICE custody.”
The scope of this issue also requires private support. Individual donations are needed to maintain daily operation of the shelter and to support cross-country travel expenses of the migrant families. Donations of any amount can be made at GoFundMe.com/MigrantReliefSD or sharejourneysd.org/families.
Core SDRRN partners include the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties, Jewish Family Service of San Diego, SEIU Local 221 and San Diego Organizing Project.
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Media Contact:
Ashley Weaver, J. Walcher Communications
619-295-7140, ashley@jwalcher.com
