SAN DIEGO — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously voted to develop a long-term plan for migrant transfer sites and respite shelters that includes federal and state funding.
The plan would also involve finding private-sector or philanthropic dollars for community-based organizations, along with suitable properties for shelters.
Supervisors directed Sarah Aghassi, interim chief administration officer, to work with the federal government's Shelter and Services Program on ways to increase funding to help asylum-seekers released on the street.
Aghassi will also work with local community organizations on a concept paper and advocacy plan. She will present plans to the board in 30 days.
Board Chairwoman Nora Vargas, who sponsored the proposal along with colleague Joel Anderson, said it was important to think about what a permanent transfer site will look like, and the challenges nonprofit groups face helping those seeking asylum.
"We can pretend this is not happening, but it is happening," she added.
Anderson said an overall plan is a step in the right direction and noted that since last September, some 80,000 people have entered San Diego County from other countries and then departed to be with family or friends elsewhere.
The U.S. Border Patrol cannot keep up with such volume, and while numerous charities help those in need, they have also exceeded their capacity, he added.
"For a lot of folks this is a difficult issue, because we're looking at border policy -- we don't set border policy," Anderson said, noting that the U.S. Border Patrol drops people off into San Diego communities, not Uber.
"We can pay now or pay later," Anderson said, adding that without help migrants could end up homeless or preyed upon by criminals.
In a statement after the vote, Vargas said the county is working to address the humanitarian crisis at its border "because the health and well- being of our community is our top priority."
"By creating a comprehensive and forward-thinking approach, we are laying the groundwork for a lasting solution -- a stable state and federally funded respite shelter and transfer site in San Diego County," she added.
According to Vargas' office, the county has teamed with Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego and Jewish Family Services to provide shelter services for vulnerable migrants.
Supervisors in October and December approved money to support a transfer center operated by the nonprofit SBCS (formerly known as South Bay Community Services) in partnership with other non-governmental organizations. Money for the center is projected to run out by March, according to Vargas' office, which added that the new proposal will "efficiently allocate resources" and maintain essential programs and support services.
During Tuesday's meeting, Supervisor Jim Desmond said he supported a long-term plan to help those seeking asylum, but added the county is being asked to solve a problem that's the federal government's responsibility.
Offering praise to local nonprofits for working day and night to help migrants, Desmond said the number of people entering the county "is a crisis that we just can't sustain with local taxpayer dollars."
Desmond said the nation needs immigrants, but the process needs to be handled in a controlled manner. He added than on Jan. 1 in the border community of Jacumba Hot Springs, he witnessed people coming through a hole in a fence, as Border Patrol agents worked to process them.
"It's completely out of control," Desmond said, referring to videos of boats coming ashore in San Diego County and dropping off people, who then run into neighborhoods.
He said both political parties need to unite and handle the problem.
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