logo

San Diego County Votes To Provide Housing For Asylum-Seekers

image
Author: Jeff Powers
Created: 30 January, 2019
Updated: 21 November, 2022
1 min read

San Diego, Calif.- In a move that's made national headlines, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to provide shelter for asylum-seekers amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the southern border.

The lone dissenting vote came from newly elected Supervisor Jim Desmond, who raised concerns over who will pay to house the migrants as they seek asylum in the US.  The lease agreement with Jewish Family Service of San Diego is for the property at 1501 and 1555 Sixth Ave. The lease term will end Dec. 31. “We are pleased to see the county step up and provide proactive solutions to address the humanitarian crisis facing our community,” Jewish Family Service CEO Michael Hopkins told KUSI-TV.

The San Diego Rapid Response Network, a coalition of human rights, service and faith-based organizations including JFS, has offered humanitarian aid and assistance to asylum-seeking migrants for months, including members of the Central American migrant caravans that arrived in Tijuana in November. The coalition says it has helped more than 5,200 migrants since early November.

Officials from both the county District Attorney’s and Sheriff’s offices wrote letters supporting the temporary shelter as a way to protect vulnerable migrants from traffickers and prevent any major health crisis.

The action by San Diego takes place as the Trump Administration has argued for a wall across the southern US border to stop the flow of migrants coming into the country.

According to a recent Quinnipiac University poll, a majority of US voters believe there is a humanitarian crisis at the border.

Latest articles

criwd
US Voters, Activists Set to Rally for Open Primaries Ahead of Historic Elections
The 2024 election cycle is already a historic year for election reform. Six states plus the District of Columbia have measures on the November 5 ballot that, if approved by voters, will open taxpayer-funded primary elections to voters outside the Republican and Democratic Parties....
03 October, 2024
-
5 min read
political parties
Liz Cheney Thinks a Third Party Might be Needed. Do Americans Want One?
At a forum in Minneapolis last week, former representative of Wyoming, Liz Cheney, stated it might be necessary to form a new party for conservatives unhappy with the GOP’s shift towards Trumpism and the MAGA movement. ...
03 October, 2024
-
7 min read
Idaho Capitol Building
Idaho Lawmakers Threaten to Repeal Prop 1 If Voters Pass It
Idaho Republican lawmakers have indicated that because they don't like election reforms in Proposition 1, they will consider repealing or amending the proposal if voters approve it in November. ...
02 October, 2024
-
2 min read