SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – As the influx of migrants at the U.S. southern border continues, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond on Friday said he plans to declare a humanitarian crisis at an upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting.
Desmond explained the declaration was due to what he refers to as a lack of resources from the federal government for the many asylum seekers.
In a statement to the board, Desmond said:
“With over 600 street releases daily, the strain on our local infrastructure and services is becoming increasingly untenable. We have witnessed an unprecedented influx of migrants from around the world being dropped off at transit stations throughout San Diego County. Over 5,000 individuals have been ‘street-released,’ dropped at transit stations, over the last 10 days. The numbers show no sign of slowing down. Our immigration system is broken, and people from far and wide are capitalizing on the federal government's ineptness, putting San Diegans at risk.
In the absence of sufficient Federal Government resources and support, it is clear that we cannot continue down this path. As such, I have taken the initiative to place an urgent agenda item for discussion at our upcoming Board meeting. This item will declare the current situation as a humanitarian crisis.
We already face a severe homelessness crisis, and dropping thousands of individuals onto our streets will only exacerbate this issue. Like many others, our region is already beyond its capacity to provide essential services, resources, and support to those seeking refuge within our borders. While we are a community that values compassion and empathy, we must also acknowledge the practical limits of our capacity to meet the needs of those who arrive in our region.
We urgently require federal assistance, resources, and a comprehensive strategy to address this situation effectively, ensuring the well-being of our community and those seeking shelter within it.”
The next Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 26.
With the number of asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border increasing by the day, nearly 1,000 active-duty military members have been sent to borders in California, Arizona, and Texas to help current border officers deal with the arrivals.
According to a joint press release from immigration rights organizations, border officers have dropped off at least 5,800 migrants at various transit centers across San Diego County since Sept. 13.
Some immigration advocates say the transit center drop-offs are happening because local migrant shelters are near or at capacity.
Many of the migrants are trying to make their way to other states to meet with their sponsor families or stay in the region as they await the next step in the asylum-seeking process.
Several immigration rights organizations are working together to provide food, water, basic first aid and respite shelter when needed for the migrants. Additionally, the groups say they're providing phone charging stations and Wi-Fi access so migrants and asylum seekers can get in touch with loved ones they're trying to reunite with.
The joint press release says at 463 people from 37 different countries, including Cameroon, Cuba, Mauritania and Venezuela, were dropped off in San Diego County Friday morning.
The following organizations sent the release to ABC 10News:
- Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef)
- Al Otro Lado
- San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium (SDIRC)
- Interfaith Community Services
- Casa Familiar
- Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
- San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN)
- Detention Resistance Collective
- American Friends Service Committee
- Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance
- Universidad Popular
- Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans
- Haitian Bridge Alliance
If you're interested in volunteering with any of these groups, follow this link to help in the South Bay area and this one for the North County.
