Humanity has no borders- innocent immigrants and their inspiration to overcome adversity is admirable

Every time is see the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I am reminded to pray for the many thousands of immigrants who are seeking to improve their quality of live by finding work in America.  Surely, the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is inspiring the desperate immigrants, motivating them to persevere, in the same way as it has for hundreds of years. Her image embellished on tilma inspires me to pray for the people who are making their spiritual petitions, as they seek asylum from the dangers they, and their families are facing in their homes and communities.

Asylum seekers persevere because of the sheer faith they have about finding a better life in America

Fortunately, some inspired civic leaders are thanking those who are helping these immigrants who are seeking asylum.

This opinion was published in the San Diego Union Tribune written by Nathan Fletcher and Greg Cox

Asylum-seeking families and individuals entering the United States through San Diego need, and deserve, our support. Humanity should have no borders.

An influx of Central American families applying for asylum from the deadly violence in their countries has overwhelmed the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). To make room for more asylum applicants, ICE has been releasing asylum seekers who have legal permission to stay in the U.S. while their applications are processed.

Unfortunately, the federal government is releasing these families onto the streets with no plan to safeguard their public health and more importantly no plan to connect them with their family sponsors who will house and shelter them. Some have arrived at temporary shelters, but others, like those featured in recent news reports, are left to fend for themselves on San Diego’s streets.

Over the holiday, we visited the temporary shelter operated by the San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN). We witnessed firsthand the outstanding work that’s been happening by the two dozen-plus nonprofits who have selflessly volunteered their time and leveraged their resources and relationships to help families seeking asylum.

It is important for people to understand that asylum seekers are law-abiding. They are following federal immigration laws.

The majority of families only need 24-48 hours of assistance until they are reunited with relatives who in most cases reside outside San Diego County. The problem is that federal agencies are overwhelmed. San Diego County and other local groups — without adequate support at the federal and state levels — are trying to fill the gap, even though immigration activities do not fall under local authority.

SDRRN has been doing benevolent work, but it’s not sustainable without support from others.

San Diego County stepped up last month with vaccines, nurses and other health-care professionals, and social workers to address immediate needs. But after seeing the issue up close and knowing the existing shelter will soon close, we determined more needed to be done.

So earlier this week we introduced legislative solutions — that were approved by our colleagues — to help asylum seekers, prevent a health crisis and ensure this issue doesn’t exacerbate our already-overloaded homeless shelters.

As part of the new legislation, we will co-chair a subcommittee to establish a regional working group comprised of federal, state, county and local elected officials and stakeholders to work on short-term and long-term solutions for the migrant crisis. It is time everyone starts working together.

With the new legislation, the county will also:
Identify county property for a potential temporary shelter that the state or another entity could operate to shelter asylum-seeking families.

Work with federal and state delegations on legislative policy, including funding resources, to reimburse the county for providing health services and support to asylum-seeking families, since immigration regulations are not under local authority.

Continue to pursue armories or other state properties with the governor’s office for assistance in sheltering this population.

These are the first steps of a more collaborative effort to assist asylum seekers.

We look forward to having federal and state leaders join us in addressing this situation.

Fletcher and Cox are members of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. Fletcher, a Democrat, was elected to the board in November. Cox, a Republican, joined the board in 1995.