Know Your Rights Presentations & Friend of the Court Assistance
The federal government's Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP, commonly referred to as "Remain in Mexico") forces asylum seekers to return to and remain in Mexico to await their U.S. court dates, depriving them of resources and assistance in the U.S., including legal aid. Of more than 38,000 asylum seekers enrolled in MPP, only about 1% have legal representation. Jewish Family Service of San Diego, which leads the legal services for and is a core partner of the San Diego Rapid Response Network, requested the ability to provide "Know Your Rights" presentations and "Friend of the Court" assistance, in which an attorney informally guides an individual during their hearing, at San Diego Immigration Court. In June 2019, the Department of Justice denied the request.
Because of this denial, and now that all local immigration court cases have been postponed from the docket except for MPP, JFS and San Diego immigration attorneys joined together to advocate for these critical services. The San Diego Union-Tribune explains what happened on Day 1.
Read The Union Tribune Article ››
Read Our Statement ››
San Diego is the largest land border crossing in the world and has been a highly active location for deportations, rights violations, and abuse by Customs Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The SDRRN was activated to respond to increased immigration enforcement activities within San Diego County and humanitarian issues arising at the border, including widespread family separation and unjust deportation of asylum seekers presenting at the Port-of-Entry.
To view the Core Partners, Legal Partners, and Participating Organizations, please click here.
We Need Your Support
Families are arriving in our community in desperate need of our help. They have traveled hundreds, if not thousands of miles to flee violence, suffering, and persecution in their homelands in search of a safer, better life.
Immigration authorities are releasing these families after being vetted by Homeland Security in San Diego and giving them the right to live in the U.S. while they await the outcome of their application for asylum. Learn more in our Newsroom.
Your Support is Vital to Running the Migrant Family Shelter
A migrant shelter was started in late October 2018 to provide meals, medical care, legal services, and travel aid to 200 individuals; nearly 50-60 families a day. Funds are needed for the shelter to maintain its daily operation and provide basic necessities, such as food, blankets and bedding, portable showers, baby/children needs, and toiletries. The funding will also help SDRRN provide free legal representation for these families and fund bond fees.
DONATE NOW
Donate Needed Items
All shelter guests – babies, infants, children, and adults – discard their old clothes for health and hygiene reasons and are provided with new underwear, clean clothes, and shoes. Before they leave to reconnect with loved ones, asylum-seeking families are provided with additional clothes for what is often a multi-day bus ride.
You can donate these needed items through our Amazon wishlist, which will help families begin their journey in the United States.
In The News
Court temporarily blocks Trump’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, then suspends its own order
February 28, 2020
By midafternoon, a group of about a dozen migrants — a mix of parents and children accompanied by Jewish Family Service attorneys — asked to be let into the United States at the gate leading to the San Ysidro Port of Entry from Tijuana. Ultimately, their attempts were denied.
Click here to read the San Diego Union-Tribune story
Fewer Asylum Seekers Have Lawyers Under Trump Administration Policy
January 31, 2020
Asylum seekers who have access to legal counsel are five times more likely to succeed in staying in the U.S. than their unrepresented counterparts. Organizations across our Southern border have stepped up to provide critical legal services to migrants, including JFS. As part of our commitment to supporting asylum seekers, we maintain a WhatsApp line for consultations and distribute “Know Your Rights” videos.
Click here to read the story from the Wall Street Journal
San Diego Legal Service Providers, Human Rights Advocates Launch #Restoreasylumnow Campaign to Call for an End to “Migrant Protection Protocols”
January 29, 2020
Campaign Tied with One-Year Anniversary of “Remain in Mexico” Policy.
Click here to read the press releaseOn One Year Anniversary of Mpp, National Call to #Restoreasylumnow
January 29, 2020
News coverage regarding the one year anniversary of MPP and the #RestoreAsylumNow campaign.
Press coverage regarding event:
Voice of San Diego | San Diego Union-Tribune | San Diego Union-Tribune (Español) | Times of San Diego (Pre-event) | Times of San Diego (Post-event) | KPBS | San Diego Jewish World | EFE | City News Service | Courthouse News | Fox 5 San Diego | KUSI | El Latino San Diego
San Diego Migrant Shelter Finds More Permanent Home
January 13, 2020
For the next two and a half years, the JFS Migrant Family Shelter has a new home at a State-owned building in Linda Vista. Now in its seventh location, the shelter will continue to provide vital humanitarian support, travel assistance, medical screenings, and legal counsel for asylum-seeking families as they search for a better life. Kate Morrissey of the San Diego Union-Tribune takes a first look at the new location.
Click here to read the San Diego Union-Tribune story
