Coming together to help migrant families

By Eric George Tauber

SAN DIEGO —  I attended a press conference put on by SDRRN (San Diego Rapid Response Network) in front of St. Jude Shrine of the West on Monday, Nov. 19. SDRRN is a network of non-profit services including Jewish Family Services, Catholic Charities and the ACLU. This network has come together to help the many migrant families from Central America seeking asylum in San Diego. Numbers have grown. Three hundred to five hundred people present themselves each day at the border ports of entry. They need food, water, diapers, medicine, triage, a safe place to sleep and legal services to explain their rights as asylum seekers.

“Once initially processed and vetted for security risks, the Department of Homeland Security has quietly dropped these families –tagged with ankle bracelets and without any resources- at various locations throughout San Diego. The situation has left hundreds of migrants homeless on San Diego’s streets, with nowhere to go and no way of getting to their final destinations.” (SDRRN Press Release)

According to a statement released by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement):

“Family units that are released will be enrolled in a form of ICE’s Alternatives to Detention or released on another form of supervision. Aliens will be issued a Notice to Appear in immigration court, as appropriate. ICE continues to work with local and state officials and NGO partners in the area so they are prepared to provide assistance with transportation or other services.”

These migrants are running from violence and threats of death. Family members have been killed and they are trying to cut their losses with the family they have left. For their safety, the migrants themselves did not take the podium. But representatives from the network told their stories.

Appaswamy Pajanor of Catholic Charites talked about Enrique, a young man who wanted no part of the gang scene and their drugs. They tried to recruit him by threatening to kill his young daughter if he did not. He knew they weren’t bluffing. His cousin had also refused them and was later found dead in an alley.

Padre Edmundo Zárate pastors a community of mostly Spanish speaking immigrants. Every one of them has a story of someone in their family. His own grandparents had been deported back to Mexico. He spoke of our various faiths acknowledging the dignity of all people, especially the most vulnerable. “No matter what culture we’re from, we can trace our families back to immigrants.”

Rabbi Devorah Marcus of Temple Emanu-El likened the migrant caravan to the Pilgrims of the Mayflower. They too were fleeing violent oppression. But they were welcomed and treated with compassion by the inhabitants. She also likened them to the patriarch, Jacob who sought safety in a faraway land under threat of death (Genesis 28). She further asked us to donate 10% of our Thanksgiving meal budget to SDRRN.

SDRRN has set up a migrant shelter to house some of these families and get them what they need. For security purposes, the shelter is in an undisclosed location. The authorities know where they are, but with all of the anti-immigrant sentiment, it’s best not to take chances.

One crucial service is legal counsel by immigration lawyers on the rights of asylum seekers to the US. Carmen Chavez, Executive Director of Casa Cornelia Law Center, a non-profit law firm, put out this statement:

“Since November 3, we have worked with 20 to 30 families per night who are seeking the legal representation to which they have a right. We are committed to offering free legal services to all victims of human rights violations…. Our role at the shelter has been assisting with intakes, conducting a legal orientation presentation each night and providing one-on-one consultations with an attorney for each family. We are appreciative of the support of the San Diego community, which allows this work to happen.”

SDRRN receives no federal grants. All support comes from donations to their member organizations. To make a donation, visit www.GoFundMe.com/MigrantReliefSD.

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Tauber is a freelance writer based in San Diego.  He may be contacted via eric.tauber@sdjewishworld.com