SDRRN Migrant Shelter History

November 2018 – Present

In October 2018, Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) abruptly ended a program known as “Safe Release,” which helped asylum-seekers connect with friends and family in the U.S. as they waited for their court date. Abandoned on the streets of downtown San Diego, migrant families were left vulnerable to crime and risked straining County resources by adding to our expanding homeless population. The San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) filled this critical gap in government assistance by serving as an emergency respite shelter for asylum seekers. By mid-November 2018, ICE began coordinating with the SDRRN to drop-off migrant families at the SDRRN Migrant Shelter each day.

SDRRN Migrants Shelter Services, operated by Jewish Family Service of San Diego, continues to provide case management, travel assistance, nutrition services, medical screenings, and financial support for migrant families.

To date, the shelter has serve more than 81,514 asylum seekers –and provided beds, food, clothing, health services, legal aid, and transportation assistance to help families connect with loved ones across the country as they continued their legal process to gain asylum. For the latest data, view the latest infographic in the above section.

Starting in June 2020, services for asylum seekers released by the U.S. government transitioned from a congregate shelter space to individual hotel rooms by JFS as part of the services it offers under the San Diego Rapid Response Network. We will continue to prioritize the needs of asylum seekers through targeted transition services and legal assistance, ensuring that No One Stands Alone In Our Community.