Added Feb. 10, 2025

Amid Changing Federal Policies, Jewish Family Service Shifts Immigration Focus to Pro Bono Legal Aid and Continues Community Support Resources

New Realities Force Nonprofit to Pivot from Migrant Shelter Services

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is working to meet the evolving needs of the community in response to recent and anticipated federal policy changes. With a deep commitment to its core value of “Welcome the Stranger,” JFS is focusing its immigration efforts on providing pro bono legal services and community support resources.

“We’ve been preparing for these changes in federal policies and enforcement,” said CEO Michael Hopkins. “While there are no longer individuals or families seeking asylum released from short term federal immigration custody to our Shelter Services, we are seeing increased needs for immigration legal assistance and other social service supports to vulnerable San Diegans. We’re also continuing to collaborate with our community partners to explore new ways to offer assistance.”

On Jan. 20, 2025, the federal government ceased use of the CBP One application, which allowed migrants to request asylum at U.S. ports of entry. With migrants no longer able to use the CBP One application, the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) Migrant Shelter Services, operated by JFS, has not received new families and individuals released from short term federal custody into our care. Due to these changes in federal funding and policy, the SDRRN Migrant Shelter Services will be paused until there is better understanding of future community needs.

At the same time, needs are increasing for immigrants and undocumented residents and for vulnerable members of our community. JFS will continue providing robust pro bono immigration legal services for the most vulnerable cases, including unaccompanied minors and adults facing deportation; free immigration legal services and education for 12 community colleges and universities in the region; and renewals for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients (DACA or Dreamers), along with JFS programs and services available to the community at large, including for food, aging care services, case management and more.

In the past six years, the SDRRN Migrant Shelter Services has assisted more than 248,000 people seeking asylum – providing temporary shelter, food, case management, medical and legal services, and travel coordination to reunite people with their loved ones across the U.S.

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