San Diego County Votes To Provide Housing For Asylum-Seekers

image
Published: 30 Jan, 2019
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.

You Might Also Like

“Cartoon illustration of Americans facing the U.S. Capitol as light pierces through red and blue partisan cracks, representing independent voters and hope for political reform.”
New Poll: Voters Want New Leadership – and They’re Turning to Independents
A new poll from the Independent Center highlights a clear message from the public: Americans are fed up with the current political leadership, and they’re ready for change....
12 Nov, 2025
-
2 min read
Massachusetts voters.
Ranked Choice Voting Momentum Surges in Massachusetts as Cities Push for Local Control
Ranked choice voting (RCV) continues to see a surge in momentum across the U.S. However, the state that has seen the largest reform growth in the last 5 years -- Massachusetts -- has received little attention. This is because the 10 cities that have approved RCV have not been able to implement it due to state law....
14 Nov, 2025
-
5 min read
Caution tape with US Capitol building in the background.
Did the Republicans or Democrats Start the Gerrymandering Fight?
The 2026 midterm election cycle is quickly approaching. However, there is a lingering question mark over what congressional maps will look like when voters start to cast their ballots, especially as Republicans and Democrats fight to obtain any electoral advantage possible. ...
11 Nov, 2025
-
8 min read