A major migrant shelter in San Diego is closing its doors and laying off more than 100 employees, marking a significant shift in federal immigration policy and funding.
The Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS), which has been operating the shelter for over six years, announced that changes in federal funding and policy under the Trump administration have forced them to shut down operations.
The shelter, which provided temporary housing, meals, and transportation to migrants passing through San Diego County, has seen a sudden drop in arrivals since the CBP One phone app went down on January 20th.
This app, originally created under Trump’s first administration to assist with cargo inspections, was later expanded to allow migrants to schedule asylum appointments at U.S. ports of entry. However, it was shut down on Inauguration Day as part of a policy change, effectively cutting off a key pathway for asylum seekers.
Without new arrivals, the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) Migrant Shelter Services, which JFS operates, has paused operations indefinitely.
The closure means that 115 employees at the shelter will lose their jobs. JFS CEO Michael Hopkins acknowledged the shift, stating:
“We’ve been preparing for these changes in federal policies and enforcement… While asylum seekers are no longer being released into our shelter, we are seeing increased demand for immigration legal assistance and social services for vulnerable San Diegans.”
Despite the closure, Jewish Family Service plans to continue providing:
✅ Pro bono legal services for asylum seekers
✅ Community support resources for vulnerable migrants
✅ Social services for San Diegans in need
The organization says it has helped 200,000 migrants in transit through San Diego County since 2018.
Despite announcing the closure due to lack of federal support, grant records from FEMA reveal that JFS actually received $22 million in taxpayer funds for Fiscal Year 2024. This has sparked questions about how those funds were allocated and whether the shelter could have remained open.
With the CBP One app discontinued and migrant shelters shutting down, the future of asylum processing in the U.S. remains uncertain. Advocates worry that these policy changes could create additional bottlenecks at the border, leaving thousands of asylum seekers stranded without support.
For now, Jewish Family Service says it will monitor the situation and determine how best to assist affected communities in the future.
This sudden shift in policy highlights how quickly immigration laws can change—and the real-world impact these changes have on both migrants and communities working to support them.
What do you think about the shelter closure and the policy changes behind it? Join the conversation and let us know your thoughts!
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