Jewish Family Service San Diego (JFS) has announced a significant shift in their operations, suspending migrant shelter services amid an increasingly uncertain federal funding landscape. Introduced in 2018, the San Diego Rapid Response Network Migrant Shelter Services provided critical support, including temporary housing and other essential services, to over 240,000 migrants. However, recent executive orders from Washington have thrown a wrench in these operations, as reported by ABC 10News.

The sanctuary city of San Diego, as per President Trump's executive order, faced a freeze in federal funding for immigration services. Although this has been temporarily blocked in court, nonprofits like JFS are feeling the ripple effects, with the nonprofit confirming they are yet to receive a single dollar of the $22 million allocated to them last September. In addition, the shuttering of the CBP One App, a mobile application that allowed migrants to request asylum at ports of entry, has caused a drop in individuals seeking help from the JFS migrant shelter.

In light of these challenges, JFS CEO Michael Hopkins emphasized, as per Jewish Family Service's press release, that the organization intends to provide necessary legal services for pro bono immigration and other community support. This is interpreted as a direct response to the pressing demand, especially among unaccompanied minors and those facing deportation, amid the tumultuous changes to immigration policies.

While the migrant shelter services enter this state of limbo, JFS has not lessened its commitment to "Welcome the Stranger" and is redoubling efforts to assist in critical areas such as legal representation for non-citizens, including DACA recipients, and higher education legal services among others; programs that support access to healthy food, aging care, and aid for those without homes.