Supervisor Jim Desmond has voiced his concerns regarding the continuous practice of U.S. border agents dropping off migrants from the Mexico border in the San Diego County area. In a recent Twitter post, Desmond stated that nearly 7,000 migrants have been dropped in the region in just the past 10 days.
Desmond visited the Oceanside transit station, where he witnessed Border Patrol officials dropping off over 20 migrants. He emphasized the need for comprehensive immigration reform, as local non-profit organizations and resources are stretched to their limits. "Our border is in chaos, and we need a stronger, more humane system," Desmond suggested in a statement per NBC 7 San Diego.
As the situation deteriorates, local non-profits have stepped up to assist migrants on their journey. Jewish Family Service, which runs San Diego's shelter system, is experiencing an overwhelming demand for support. They work closely with the San Diego Rapid Response Network, a coalition that has provided shelter and humanitarian aid to more than 157,000 people since 2018. However, the rapid increase of migrants being dropped off is forcing these organizations to quickly adapt and limit the number of people they can help.
To address these concerns, County Supervisor Joel Anderson penned a letter to President Joe Biden, asking for federal assistance, stating, "Receiving assistance from the federal government to process the asylum seekers entering San Diego and immediately halting the lateral transfer of asylum seekers from other states will allow us to better address this continuing humanitarian crisis without adding to our region's existing homelessness crisis." Anderson's letter highlights the magnitude of the situation, drawing attention to the tens of thousands of migrants already served by local organizations since 2018.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the drop-offs are an attempt to clear space between two U.S.-Mexico border fences, where hundreds of migrants, asylum-seekers, and refugees have been camping. This strategy, however, has sparked widespread contention among local leaders due to its impact on both the migrants and San Diego residents. They argue the lack of resources, and proper processing provided for these individuals is inhumane and jeopardizes the safety of everyone involved.
Desmond, echoing these sentiments, called the border situation a humanitarian crisis in another Twitter post. He urged the federal government to recognize the urgency of the situation, especially for smaller regions that were struggling to quickly allocate resources and provide adequate support for incoming migrants and asylum seekers.
The border situation is a humanitarian crisis. The Federal Government cannot continue to drop thousands of people in our region without resources. pic.twitter.com/RWFFmP8cKB
— Supervisor Jim Desmond (@jim_desmond) September 25, 2023
