A migrant shelter in San Diego is shutting down after receiving no new arrivals following the Trump administration’s termination of the CBP One app on Inauguration Day.
The Jewish Family Service of San Diego, which has operated a regional migrant shelter for over six years, announced it will close its facility and lay off 115 employees due to “changes in federal funding and policy.”
What Led to the Closure?
The non-governmental organization (NGO) said they have not received new asylum-seeking families or individuals since the CBP One phone app went down on January 20.
The app, which allowed immigrants to be paroled into the U.S., was created during the first Trump administration to assist with scheduling cargo inspections.
It expanded in 2023 to allow migrants to make an appointment at a port of entry to be allowed in, initially due to an exception from the Title 42 public health order.
Impact on the Community
The Jewish Family Service has helped 200,000 migrants in transit through San Diego County since 2018, providing them with temporary shelter, meals, and transportation to their final destinations across the U.S.
With the closure of the shelter, the organization will focus 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.”
What’s Next?
The organization received $22,077,365 in taxpayer-funded FEMA money in Fiscal Year 2024, despite claiming they received no funds.
The closure of the shelter has raised concerns about the impact on the community and the migrants who relied on its services.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the Trump administration’s policy changes have had a significant impact on the migrant community in San Diego.