AGENDA
ITEM
26 OF CALET
CALEXICO California AGENDA
ITEM
WHERE CALIFORNIA AND MEXICO MEET
26 CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
DATE: January 16, 2024
TO: Mayor and City Council
APPROVED BY: Espera cal were cry mana See le a
PREPARED BY: Eduardo Ainza, Acting Fire Chief
SUBJECT: Discussion/Action on proposed Asylum Seekers and Migrant Assistance Plan to be funded by a $2,000,000 Grant from the California Department of Social Services - Office of Equity
Recommendation:
Discussion/Action on proposed Asylum Seekers and Migrant Assistance Plan to be funded by a $2,000,000 Grant from the California Department of Social Services - Office of Equity Background:
Title 42 was enacted in 2020 as a means to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases during COVID 19. With the lifting of Title 42 in 2023, border communities across the country have experienced a surge in asylum seekers with origins from across the globe. Each day approximately seventy-five asylum seekers are released from the West Port of Entry onto the streets of Calexico. On November 28, 2023, the City of Calexico was denied financial assistance under the CDAA for assistance with the migrant surge. However, the State Senator Steve Padilla awarded $2M through the California Department of Social Services, to the city of Calexico to lessen the negative impacts suffered by our border community.
Discussion and Analysis:
The objective of this project is to reduce the City of Calexico resources impacted by the influx of asylum seekers by providing grant funding to participating NGOs. These grant funds have been awarded with the specific purpose of mitigating the impact of asylum seekers on the local community. The intention is to task non-profits with facilitating the continued travel of asylum seekers, as well as identifying, and providing additional resources when needed.
Current Status:
Seven days a week, the port of entry attempts to release twenty-five asylum seekers at 10:00, 14:00, and 18:00 hours, for a total of approximately seventy-five migrants per day. Ninety percent of these migrants choose to utilize services provided by Catholic Charites and are transported to hotels in the Imperial Valley while they organize the details of the remainder of their travels. In addition to shelter, these services provide medical care, food, and transport to regional airports. Those travelers that choose not to accept these services, either have prearranged travel plans, or cannot provide proof they are family and will therefore be subject to separation per Catholic Charity policies. Prearranged travel plans often require a layover in Calexico ranging from a few hours to a few days, families without documentation proving relation are often left with limited options during this layover period. The intention of this option is to avoid hardships or harm that may come to asylum seekers on the streets of Calexico. To date there have been no incidents generated by the fire department in response to the asylum seekers. The 911 system will continue to be the resource utilized for emergencies.
Services and logistics to be provided by non-profit organization, which will be selected using a request for proposals:
The following is a brief example of the scope of work to be provided, the City Council will determine pertinent alterations to the required scope of work as the plan develops. The request for proposal will include a mandatory meeting to determine with all potential nonprofit organizations and identify essential services required not previously included in the request for proposals.
Hygiene: A plan to provide restrooms, showers, and comfort kits.
Comfort measures: Bedding, and a facility with air conditioning is required. Facilities should have the capacity to maintain families separate from single travelers, as well as men from women.
Food: A plan to provide travelers with meals. The number of travelers released constantly varies, logistics must be coordinated to adapt to the demand.
Security: As part of the objective of this plan, the non-profit must provide security in order to eliminate the impact on local law enforcement
Travel vendors: Establish if there will be vendors on site, and if so, what licensing will be required. If the facility cannot meet the demands, will there be vendors representing local lodging options.
Liaison: They will require constant communication with a contact at the port of entry to coordinate traveler transport to the facility.
Fiscal Impact:
The objective of this project is to utilize grant funds to avoid any further City of Calexico funds and resources to be impacted. When grant funds have been exhausted, this project will be terminated.
Coordinated With:
Fire Department
Police Department
City Manager
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