From CEO Michael Hopkins

Today, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a preliminary injunction on the federal government’s inhumane Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) – commonly referred to as the “Remain in Mexico” policy – which forces asylum-seekers to return to and remain in Mexico to await their U.S. court dates.

While in effect over the past year, MPP has deprived more than 60,000 vulnerable migrants (with over 25,700 returned in the Tijuana/Mexicali region alone) – including pregnant women, families with young children, and vulnerable populations – of the protection they so desperately seek, and access to vital resources and assistance in the U.S., including legal aid.

Effective immediately, the Court’s decision blocks any asylum-seekers being enrolled into MPP or being returned to Mexico.

Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) is one of the few legal service providers in the southern border region that has been providing critical legal services to individuals and families who have been enrolled in MPP since the program’s inception, and also operates the JFS Migrant Family Shelter.

JFS commends the decision to halt the inhumane and disastrous Migrant Protection Protocols. We stand at the ready to welcome asylum-seekers to the United States to provide critical humanitarian and legal assistance to families and individuals fleeing from violence and persecution in their home countries.

Numbers at the JFS Migrant Family Shelter are expected to rise in the wake of this news, as well as an increased need for legal assistance. Additional funding is essential to maintain daily operation of the shelter, support cross-country travel expenses of migrant families and provide pro bono legal assistance. To learn more, donate or volunteer, visit www.jfssd.org/shelter.