WELCOMING STRANGERS IS WHAT WE DO

There are roughly 80 million displaced men, women and children around the world who remain in immediate danger, fleeing war, persecution and more. And yet at a time when humanitarian needs are increasing due to escalating crises around the world — from Europe to Africa to the Americas — thousands of vulnerable migrants continue to be denied their right to seek asylum in the U.S. in the name of “public health” under the cruel Title 42 expulsion policy.

Legal, human rights and immigration advocates all agree: Title 42 is nothing more than a discriminatory attempt to prevent individuals from predominantly Southern and Central American countries from legally immigrating to the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said the policy is no longer needed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and a recent study by The Center for American Progress has also demonstrated Title 42 does not prevent the spread of the virus.

There is no reason for Title 42 to still be in place. The San Diego community has long been on the front lines of helping those fleeing violence or persecution connect to critical and often lifesaving services. Since 2018, as operators of the San Diego Rapid Response Network Migrant Shelter Services, Jewish Family Service of San Diego and our incredible network of partners, supporters and volunteers has welcomed more than 68,000 asylum seekers — primarily families with young children — with the dignity and respect every human deserves as they made their way to their final destinations elsewhere in the U.S.

For the duration of this operation — well before the implementation of Title 42 — we have demonstrated that it is possible to prioritize public health while welcoming vulnerable individuals with dignity. With the help of our medical partners, all guests released into our care by the Department of Homeland Security receive health screenings and COVID-19 testing, and quarantine in hotel rooms before travel, following all public health guidelines. They are also given the opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine prior to traveling.

Our region’s ongoing success helping these vulnerable populations is now serving as a national model. We have shown that it is possible to welcome newly arriving migrants in a safe, humane and rights-respecting manner — and it starts with recognizing that an increased number of asylum seekers is not a border emergency, but a rallying call to the community that we can, and must, all answer together.