San Diego County has chosen the Virginia-based Providencia Group to establish and manage its new migrant transfer center, a decision that has sparked concerns among local migrant service organizations. After negotiations with Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) fell through, the county announced plans to enter an 18-month, $18 million contract with Providencia, with options for yearly extensions.
Providencia Group, known for its humanitarian and disaster response services, operates a similar center in El Paso, Texas. Since May, San Diego officials have been working on a permanent center, using $19.6 million in federal funds. A temporary center, set up with $6 million last fall, closed in February when funding ran out.
Despite the county’s efforts, local groups expressed concerns over the selection of an out-of-state contractor. Adriana Jasso, of the American Friends Service Committee, worries the non-local provider may not understand the region’s needs, potentially leading to inadequate services for migrants.
Board Chair Nora Vargas acknowledged these concerns but emphasized her commitment to ensuring the funding is used in collaboration with local organizations to support asylum seekers.
While Jewish Family Service declined to comment directly, they affirmed their continued commitment to working with the government to support vulnerable migrants. They will maintain operations of the San Diego Rapid Response Network’s Migrant Shelter Services, focusing on the most at-risk asylum seekers, including families, pregnant women, and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Migrant encounters in San Diego have declined by 43% since President Joe Biden’s executive order restricting asylum access. This reduction has eased pressure on local shelters, effectively eliminating street releases for now.
Rep. Mike Levin praised local nonprofits for their work, noting the importance of federal Shelter and Services Program (SSP) funding to continue migrant aid. The Providencia Group, previously awarded contracts for reunification services and managing El Paso’s migrant center, will now help San Diego County with similar services.
The county has received $82.9 million in SSP funding, primarily benefiting local groups like JFS and Catholic Charities, which continue to play vital roles in supporting asylum seekers.