California governor pushes for fund to help asylum seekers
SAN DIEGO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised San Diego County for providing a shelter for asylum seekers and said he wants the state to set up an emergency fund of $25 million to address what he has called a humanitarian crisis created by the federal government.
Speaking during a visit to San Diego, Newsom told reporters that $5 million should be made available this year — mostly to help San Diego’s shelter.
He said his proposal is worded “loosely” to allow for flexibility in the spending, but he believes the money is needed for a problem that will not be going away in the near future.
The most immediate needs for now are in San Diego County, where humanitarian groups say they have aided more than 5,500 asylum seekers.
This, after the U.S. government started releasing migrants onto the streets.
The U.S. also started returning some asylum seekers to Tijuana, Mexico, this week after reaching an agreement with Mexico to allow them to remain there while their cases wind through the courts, which could take months or years. But Mexico so far has said no children will be allowed to be returned.
San Diego County officials agreed to allow an unused courthouse to be used as a shelter for asylum seekers.
Most stay between 12 to 48 hours at the shelter.
Newsom said lawmakers will discuss the proposed emergency fund on Monday.