San Diego migrant shelter closes after decrease in residents in Trump term

The Jewish Family Service of San Diego, which has operated a regional migrant shelter for over six years, announced it will close its facility and lay off more than 100 employees due to “changes in federal funding and policy” under the new administration. In a statement, the organization said its transition shelter, which is used to provide medical screenings, food, legal assistance, and travel coordination, has not received a single migrant since President Donald Trump’s inauguration day, according to a report by the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The lack of new migrants coincides with the Trump administration’s ending of the CBP One app. The app, originally designed for trade and commercial purposes, was repurposed under the Biden administration to allow migrants to schedule asylum interviews at ports of entry and be released into the US while awaiting updates on their claims.

The organization also noted that it has not received any of the $22 million it was awarded last year under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Shelter and Services Program.

CEO Michael Hopkins stated that Jewish Family Service had “been preparing for these changes in federal policies and enforcement” and that, despite the shelter’s closure, the organization remains committed to its core value of "Welcome the Stranger." Moving forward, it will focus on its legal services, including representation for those facing deportation, free immigration legal services for students and faculty at San Diego-area colleges, and assistance for recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

“We’ve bolstered our staff and volunteer efforts for pro bono legal immigration services, especially for immigrants and undocumented members of our community,” the organization stated.