Thank you to Susan Davis, who represented the 53rd District in Congress from 2001-2020, for this op-ed. She writes, “Many San Diegans have worked hard to support refugees in our community for many decades and have their own immigrant stories. People are asking, how can I help? The most important thing we all can do is to acknowledge newcomers, respect their culture, celebrate the gifts they bring, and offer them support as they navigate a long and difficult path to find their footing and new opportunities.”

Immigration attorneys whose practices shifted when President Joe Biden rescinded the “Remain in Mexico” program are experiencing whiplash after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed it to be reinstated. Kate Clark, the director of immigration services at the Jewish Family Service of San Diego, told Law360 that “reinstatement is certainly not something we ever thought was going to be within the realm of possibilities”. In the weeks since, Clark says her organization has redoubled its advocacy efforts, calling on congressional representatives and the White House to stand in opposition to the policy.

Shortly after the inauguration of Donald J. Trump, the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties launched a network to provide humanitarian and legal aid to asylum seekers. The San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) quickly became California’s first responder for immigrants seeking safe haven. Created in December 2017, SDRRN is a unique ecosystem of immigrants’ rights groups, social service organizations, and volunteers dedicated to supporting immigrants, asylum seekers, and their families. The extensive regional coalition involves more than 40 partners working to provide refuge and transitional support to tens of thousands of asylum seekers and immigrants, while minimizing the devastating effects of abusive immigration enforcement, family separation, and deportation. The Fall 2021 issue of ACLU Magazine features an inside look at the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties’ work alongside Jewish Family Service of San Diego to provide safe haven for asylum seekers.

Refugee resettlement organizations across the U.S. are gearing up to resettle tens of thousands of newly arriving Afghans, many of whom are arriving with uncertain immigration statuses and little other than the clothing on their backs. Aid groups are now routinely being alerted about impending arrivals with about 24-hours’ notice, instead of days or weeks under normal circumstances, according to Etleva Bejko, director of refugee and immigration services at Jewish Family Service of San Diego.

With the Supreme Court ruling requiring the Biden’s Administration to revive MPP, San Diego advocates are already concerned Remain in Mexico’s reinstatement will force more migrants into dangerous living conditions. Jewish Family Services described Remain in Mexico as a “cruel and inhumane program.” They further explained, “over the last two years, we have seen firsthand the mental and physical toll the policy places on those traumatized by the violence and persecution they have fled from in their home countries.”

The Supreme Court ordered the Biden administration to follow a Texas judge’s ruling to restart Trump’s Migrant Protection Protocols. Many migrants are already being returned to Mexico under Title 42. Luis Gonzalez, Immigration Attorney of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, called the ruling “bittersweet” because he knew Jewish Family Service had managed to help 37 more asylum seekers get processed into the United States before the Supreme Court order was announced. However, he knew there were thousands more still stuck outside the United States — including some of his clients — who now might have to wait much longer in dangerous conditions.

At least six El Cajon-area families totaling 30 people now have been rescued; others are still stranded. Resettlement agencies across the county have been working tirelessly for weeks to assist Afghan refugees. Jewish Family Services settled 74 people from 17 families between August 6 and August 8 and continues to resettle rescued families and individuals.

As the U.S. withdrawal deadline in Afghanistan approaches, thousands of refugees continue to arrive in our country. Etleva Bejko, the Director of Refugee Resettlement for the Jewish Family Service of San Diego, said “We can only imagine that there will be more and more people coming out hopefully safely and reach our communities and we need to respond and make sure they are settled in our communities successfully.”

Michael Hopkins, chief executive officer of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, issued the following statement Wednesday in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court decision ordering President Joe Biden to abide by former President Donald Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy.

Local immigrant’s rights advocates are speaking out after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block a court ruling ordering the president to reinstate the controversial Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy. In anticipation of the Supreme Court ruling, Jewish Family Service worked tirelessly yesterday — the last day of processing and crossing — to assist as many individuals and families through the MPP wind-down process as possible. Working through the night, JFS welcomed an additional 37 individuals comprising 16 families.

Jewish Family Service took a stand against yesterday’s refusal by the Supreme Court to block a lower court order, thereby allowing the reinstatement of the abhorrent policy known as the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). JFS urges the Biden administration to uphold its promise to end MPP and protect those seeking asylum at our borders.

As the world watches the chaos unfold in Afghanistan, San Diego nonprofits are racing to prepare for an influx of refugees already arriving to our area. As of August 23, Jewish Family Service of San Diego has welcomed 17 families totaling 74 individuals. While the State Department is expecting to evacuate 20,000+ Afghan refugees to the United States, it remains unclear how many will end up here in San Diego.

Earlier in the year, the number of Afghans coming to San Diego under the Special Immigration Visa program had slowed to a trickle, partly because of COVID-19 and partly because of delays that began under the Trump Administration. All of that has turned around the last two weeks, as the evacuation continues in Kabul, says Etleva Bejko, Director of Refugee and Immigration Services with Jewish Family Service of San Diego. “Our goal is to make sure that, as they come here, that we provide the same level of services that we’ve been able to provide when we have more time to plan and make sure that those families do not fall through the cracks,” she said. At the moment, Jewish Family Services is seeing one new family arriving every day, which they expect to happen for as long as the airlift continues.

San Diego nonprofit organizations are preparing to help the Afghan refugees now arriving in the United States while also calling for continued support for those left behind under the Taliban. Jewish Family Service has resettled 74 individuals since August 6 and is actively preparing for the increase of refugees resettled in the San Diego region under the Special Immigrant Visa program. “Most cases are assigned to JFS with little more than 24 hours’ notice before arrival, though all have prior connections — whether family or friends — to the San Diego region,” said Etleva Bejko, Director of Refugee Resettlement with Jewish Family Service of San Diego.

Accounts of local Holocaust Survivors, interviewed by the staff of Jewish Family Service of San Diego, have been compiled into a book, ‘Life Lessons from Holocaust Survivors.’ More information about the Life Lessons project can be found at www.jfssd.org/lifelessons.

Migrant arrests are hitting records, but many who are intercepted are sent to Mexico while those who stay are often tested for the virus. In locations that have reported figures, migrants generally test positive at similar or lower rates than Americans living in the counties where they are tested. In San Diego, Jewish Family Service has health provider relationships to administer the vaccine.

An Afghan family shares their gratitude for being welcomed in San Diego but worry about their family who remain behind.

Jewish Family Service stands ready to Welcome the Stranger with dignity and respect and is actively assisting Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) recipients from Afghanistan. As one of the primary refugee resettlement agencies in San Diego, JFS has successfully resettled 59 individuals (11 families) with SIVs from Afghanistan since August 6. Our staff and volunteers will remain at-the-ready to accept more families in the coming days and weeks.

A wave of Afghan refugees are expected to arrive in San Diego amid the crisis in Afghanistan.

The agency says the State Department is “prioritizing many cases to be assigned to JFS with little more than 24 hours’ notice before arrival, though all have prior connections – whether family or friends – to the San Diego region.”

Jewish Family Service of San Diego is one agency that is welcoming Afghans to our community. From August 6 – 18, JFS has resettled 74 individuals comprising 17 families to San Diego.

Jewish Family Service is excited to welcome Emily Jennewein as our new Board Chair. An experienced leader in the Jewish community for the past 20 years, “JFS is sure to benefit from her experience, and we are confident she will bring passion to the role and expand our outreach,” CEO Michael Hopkins.

In a report from the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security, reviewed the agency’s treatment of pregnant women and births in custody after a Guatemalan woman filed a complaint last year about what happened to her at a station in Chula Vista. Jewish Family Service and ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties brought this case to their attention in April 2020. Kate Clark, Sr. Director of Immigration Services, is quoted in the article.

Join us for a special episode of The Tribesmen podcast where we talk about how to care for our loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s, Dementia, and Parkinson’s. Aviva Saad will be sharing her story with us as well as tips on how to care for your loved ones. Don’t miss this incredible episode!

Jewish Family Service and American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties (ACLU) sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security Secretary, outlining the ways that migrant families are still being split apart, the harm that separation causes, and suggested immediate policy changes.