San Diego County declares humanitarian crisis due to increase in migrants
The state of emergency was voted unanimously on Tuesday after two weeks which saw more than 8,100 immigrants enter San Diego.
(Cordon Press)
San Diego County in California, is experiencing its worst immigration crisis in recent years. Like New York City and Eagle Pass, Texas, the Californian county has been forced to declare a humanitarian crisis due to the massive influx of immigrants at its border. The decision, made unanimously by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, comes after more than 8,100 migrants entered the region in a period of less than two weeks.
This forced Supervisor Jim Desmond and Chairwoman Nora Vargas, the main promoters of the motion, to propose the declaration, for which they also request more federal support to confront this immigration crisis.
Declaring the humanitarian crisis, explains NBC San Diego, allows the county to request federal resources and people to manage those seeking asylum; oppose transfers of asylum seekers from other states or jurisdictions; ask the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs to send a detailed letter outlining specific needs; and advocate for federal funding to carry out a long term solution.
San Diego needs more federal aid
Both Desmond and Vargas said they had already begun receiving government funding to help asylum seekers. However, they stressed, due to the massive arrival of immigrants, that the aid is insufficient and they need both more funds and personnel to face the problem:
While the necessary help arrives, explained Vargas, they have asked that the number of migrants who enter the county be limited, at least until they receive more federal aid. As detailed in statements reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune, more funding is the only way to solve the problem they have with illegal immigration:
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