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Resources for Migrants in San Diego
Rapid Response Toolkit
About this toolkit:
This rapid response toolkit is for San Diego community-based organizations, city
departments, and other immigrant-serving agencies to connect newly arrived migrants
and asylum seekers with trusted service providers and help them access the services
they need.
For questions or if you would like to contribute to this list of resources, please reach out
to the City of San Diego’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) at:
Contents:
I. Immigration Services
○ San Diego Immigrant Legal Service Providers
○ San Diego Immigrant Resource Page
○ San Diego Rapid Response Network Hotline
II. Immigrant Resources and Public Benefits
○ Health Care
○ Food
○ Housing and Shelters
○ Child Care and Family Needs
○ Mental Health
III. Other Resources
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I. IMMIGRATION SERVICES
San Diego Immigrant Legal Service Providers:
San Diego has many non-profit legal service providers that work with immigrants both in
the city and county. Some of these organizations include:
● ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties
○ 619-232-2121
● Alliance San Diego
○ P.O Box 12266
San Diego, Ca 92112
○ 619-269-1823
● Al Otro Lado
○ 511 E. San Ysidro Blvd. #333
San Ysidro, CA 92173
○ 323-238-9935
● American Bar Association Immigration Justice Project
○ 2727 Camino del Rio South, Suite 320
San Diego, CA 92108
○ 619-255-8810
● Border Angels
○ 2258 Island Avenue,
San Diego, Ca 92102
○ 619-487-0249
● Casa Cornelia
○ 2760 Fifth Avenue, Suite 200
San Diego, Ca 92103
○ 619-231-7788
● Catholic Charities
○ 3888 Paducah Drive,
San Diego, Ca 92117
○ 619-323-2841
● CSA San Diego County
○ 327 Van Houten Ave
El Cajon, Ca 92020
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○ 619-444-5700
● Employee Rights Center
○ 4265 Fairmount Avenue Suite 200
San Diego, Ca 92105
○ 619-521-1372
● Immigrant Defenders Law Center
○ 213-634-0999
○ info@immdef.org
● Immigration Center for Women and Children
○ 427 C Street, Suite 208
San Diego, Ca 92101
○ 619-515-2200
● Jewish Family Service
○ 8804 Balboa Avenue,
San Diego, Ca 92123
○ 858-637-3210
● Legal Aid Society of San Diego
○ Central San Diego Office:
■ 1764 San Diego Ave.,
San Diego, Ca 92110
○ South San Diego Office:
■ 110 S. Euclid Ave.,
San Diego, Ca 92114
○ 877-534-2524
● Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA)
○ 5348 University Avenue, Suite 110
San Diego, Ca 92105
○ 619-363-6939
● San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program
○ 707 Broadway, Suite 1400
San Diego, Ca 92101
○ 619-235-5656
● University of San Diego (USD) School of Law
○ 5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, Ca 92110
○ 619-260-7470
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Each organization listed above has its own intake process, so expect to call and make
an appointment for consultation.
Each legal service provider also has different specialities within the field of immigration
law. Make sure to ask each organization what kinds of legal aid they can provide. Types
of services may include:
● Adjustment of Status
● DACA
● Citizenship Applications
● Removal Defense
● Asylum Applications
● Family-Based Visa Petitions
● U-Visas
● T-Visas
● VAWA
● Special Immigrant Juvenile Status
San Diego OIA Immigrant Resource Page:
https://www.sandiego.gov/welcomingsd/covid-19-resources
Find free or low-cost services in San Diego for New San Diegans, Asylum Seekers &
Refugees, and DACA Recipients using the Office of Immigrant Affairs Welcoming SD
Resources page. The information listed on the page is meant for both short-term and
long-term help.
You can utilize the Immigrant Resource Page for these types of immigration assistance:
● Know Your Rights Information
● Housing and Tenant Rights
● Legal Services
● Social Services and Community Centers
● Food Distribution and Support
● Education, Employment and Business Support
● Housing Assistance, Emergency Shelter and Housing Rights Support
● Health, Parenting, and Infant Information
● Hotlines
● Federal, State and County Resources
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● Asylum and Refugee Specific Information
● DACA Specific Information
● Citizenship Information
● Covid-19 Information
Each organization listed in the resource guides on the website has its own intake
process, so expect to call and make an appointment for consultation.
San Diego Rapid Response Network Hotline:
Call The Emergency Immigration Enforcement Hotline to Report
Ongoing Immigration Emergencies
Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm hotline at (619) 536-0823
The San Diego Rapid Response Network (SDRRN) is an interconnected system of
organizations and individuals working together to respond to dehumanizing immigration
enforcement activities, including checkpoints, raids, arrests, and harassment, occurring
in San Diego County.
SDRRN maintains an Emergency Immigration Enforcement hotline for community
members to report any immigration-related emergencies and to document such
occurrences. They also provide asylum seeker shelter and transition services including
critical case management, travel assistance, nutrition services, medical screenings,
legal assistance, and financial support for asylum seekers in need of respite shelter.
The purpose of the hotline is to document such incidents, provide emergency
assistance, and connect affected individuals with resources to social services and legal
defense.
The San Diego Rapid Response Network is run by a group of community non-profit
organizations.
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II. Immigrant Resources and Public Benefits
Health Care:
Medi-Cal Health Insurance
Medi-Cal offers eligible individuals and families access to free or low-cost health care
coverage and some dental services. You can receive full-scope Medi-Cal benefits if you
meet eligibility requirements, are a U.S. citizen, or have Satisfactory Immigration status.
Undocumented eligible adults will have access to Emergency and Pregnancy-related
services.
Note: All eligible young adults under the age of 26 and older adults age 50 and over are
entitled to receive full-scope Medi-Cal benefits, regardless of immigration status.
For assistance in another language, call (415) 558-4700 or (855) 355-5757.
● Apply for Medi-Cal.
If someone doesn’t have health care coverage or has Medi-Cal but doesn’t have a
regular doctor, California’s new nurse advice line can help. Contact Medi-Cal's free
Medi-Nurse Line about COVID-19-related symptoms and referrals for free testing and
treatment, regardless of income and immigration status.
COVID-19 Vaccinations
Vaccination Information: To learn more about the phased vaccination process and
how you can get vaccinated, visit the City of San Diego COVID-19 Vaccination
Program page or the County of San Diego COVID-19 page.
Food:
CalFresh Food Assistance
CalFresh provides many immigrants with assistance to buy food at retail food outlets,
grocery stores, farmers' markets, some restaurants, and online. View the CalFresh
Frequently Asked Questions for immigrants.
Legal permanent residents, victims of trafficking, U visa applicants and holders, and
other “qualified immigrants” may be eligible for CalFresh. For more details about who is
a “qualified immigrant,” visit http://mycalfresh.org/immigrants/ Immigration information
asked during the CalFresh application process is considered private and will NOT be
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shared, it can only be used to determine eligibility. Applicants will NOT be denied U.S.
citizenship for applying for or receiving CalFresh benefits.
● Apply for CalFresh.
Food pantries
Use The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank GPS food locator to find food
assistance in San Diego County. This GPS food locator can help you locate the over
500 organizations that have food banks across all of San Diego County. Whether you
prefer to receive walk-up assistance or drive-thru assistance, there is an option
available for everyone.
If you need immediate food assistance, please dial 2-1-1 from your phone, and an
operator will find your nearest food distribution site. Calls are free, confidential,
multilingual and available 24-hours a day.
EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK): The
Neighborhood Food Distribution Program distributes fresh produce and nonperishable
food items at 19 distribution sites every month throughout San Diego County. The
majority of the food distributed at these sites is fresh produce – fresh fruits and
vegetables. ANYONE can receive food at a Neighborhood Distribution Program site.
Identification cards ARE NOT required. There are NO INCOME restrictions for this
program. Locations and distribution hours are updated each month.
SENIOR FOOD PROGRAM (SAN DIEGO FOOD BANK): The Senior Food Program
provides a monthly 35-pound box of food and a 2-pound block of cheese to senior
citizens aged 60 and over who meet income guidelines. The Food Bank distributes food
to 13,000 low-income senior citizens at 65 sites throughout San Diego County every
month. Call 1-866-350-FOOD (3663) to speak with a staff member who can assess if
you qualify for the program. If you qualify, you will be provided information about the
location and hours of your nearest food distribution site based on your zip code. For
new participants, proof of address (such as a utility, water, or phone bill) & date of birth
are REQUIRED to register for the program. Income eligibility is a verbal self
certification; no documentation of income is required.
Housing and Shelters:
Affordable Housing Assistance and Information:
1.The City of San Diego provides information regarding access to fair housing in a
variety of languages. Please visit the City of San Diego’s “Practice Fair Housing”
page to learn more about your rights as a tenant.
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2. San Diego Housing Commission provides assistance and information on housing
opportunities and affordable rentals in the San Diego region. The Housing Commission
also has a Resource Guide, which includes all the information necessary for affordable
housing, rents, homebuyer information, and homeless shelters.
Child Care and Family Needs:
Child care subsidies
Many immigrant families on CalWORKS are eligible for help with child care costs. Learn
more from the Office of Early Care and Education. View the CalWORKs Child Care
Fact Sheet: English | 中文 | Español.
Diaper Bank
The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank also offer a Diaper Bank Program and
have a list of the different distribution locations in San Diego County. Please check out
there Diaper Bank Program Distribution List to find the nearest diaper bank near you.
Spanish Version of the Diaper Bank Program Distribution List.
Education
SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Adult Education Programs
Individuals, 18 years of age who are no longer attending high school, may enroll to
improve reading, writing, and math skills and/or to complete course requirements
needed to obtain the Adult Education High School Diploma. For locations and contact
information, visit the website provided above.
SAN DIEGO CONTINUING EDUCATION
San Diego Continuing Education (SDCE) is the adult education division of the San
Diego Community College District (SDCCD). There are a wide variety of certificate
programs available, including automotive, accounting, healthcare, fashion, and
hospitality and culinary arts. There are also English classes, opportunities to earn a high
school diploma, and also classes to learn skills and technical trades.
MIRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Mira Costa College offers a wide variety of tuition-free noncredit courses at the
Community Learning Center in Oceanside and at several locations throughout
Oceanside and Carlsbad. These courses are listed in the Continuing Education
schedule (PDF), published two times per year. Special programs
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SWEETWATER UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Adult Education Programs
There is no registration fee required for enrollment in the adult school program. You
must be 18 years of age or older to attend. New students are accepted at any time in
many classes. Students who wish to attend classes at the adult school must enroll at
the adult school of their choice: Chula Vista Adult, (619) 796-7000. Montgomery Adult,
(619) 600-3800. National City Adult, (619) 336-9400. San Ysidro Adult, (619) 428-7200.
If you have a question regarding registration and or classes offered, please call the
school that you would like to attend.
Mental Health:
Immigrants Rising Mental Health Connector
Free psychological support for youth aged 18-30, undocumented, and live in California.
The UndocuHealth Initiative
Help managing stress and anxiety for undocumented individuals.
Informed Immigrant mental health resource library
Free digital mental health resources for immigrants.
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III. Other resources:
Support for LGBTQ+ migrants
● The San Diego LBGT Community Center
○ The San Diego LGBT Community Center strives to enhance and sustain
the health and wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
HIV communities by providing activities, programs and services that
create community; empower community members; provide essential
resources; advocate for civil and human rights; and embrace, promote and
support our cultural diversity. Behavioral health, HIV, men’s, women’s, and
youth services are available. Programs supporting the Latinx community
are also available. Groups and services are available in Spanish.
Ethnic-Based Services
● AFGHAN COMMUNITY CULTURE CENTER
● HORN OF AFRICA
● IRISH OUTREACH SAN DIEGO
● KAREN ORGANIZATION OF SAN DIEGO
● LITTLE SAIGON SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION
● SAN DIEGO ALLIANCE FOR ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER AMERICANS
● SAN YSIDRO HEALTH: CHALDEAN-MIDDLE EASTERN SOCIAL SERVICES
● SOMALI FAMILY SERVICES (SFS)
● UNITED WOMEN OF EAST AFRICA
Refugee Resources
● MIRY’S LIST
● NILE SISTERS
● SAN DIEGO REFUGEE COMMUNITIES COALITION
● SAN DIEGO REFUGEE FORUM
● SECOND FAMILIES
International Rescue Committee (IRC) in San Diego
The International Rescue Committee in San Diego provides opportunities for refugees,
asylees, victims of human trafficking, survivors of torture, and other immigrants to thrive
in America. Each year, thousands of people, forced to flee violence and persecution,
are welcomed by the people of the United States into the safety and freedom of
America. These individuals have survived against incredible odds. The IRC collaborates
closely with government bodies, civil society actors, and local volunteers to support
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refugees, asylum-seekers, and other immigrants in San Diego as they work to rebuild
their lives.
Home Start - Communities in Action Program
This program helps families move towards self-sufficiency by providing case
management and support in financial literacy, hygienic supplies, tax assistance, job
readiness, and resource referrals.
Bayside Community Center
Bayside Community Center provides language and forms assistance (appointment
required) in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, and also hosts senior lunches, exercise
classes, and academic clubs for local elementary school children.
Casa Familiar
Casa Familiar provides support in accessing government benefits, such as affordable
housing and healthcare; assistance with immigration, such as DACA, citizenship, and
family-based Visa petitions; and general services, such as taxes, translations, and filling
out applications and documents.
Survivors of Torture International
Survivors of Torture, International is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to
caring for survivors of politically motivated torture and their families who live in San
Diego County. Since 1997, SURVIVORS has helped survivors to recover from their
traumas through a holistic program including mental health, psychiatry, social services,
and medical case management. SURVIVORS empowers torture survivors to reclaim the
strength and vitality that were stolen from them by brutal dictators and governments.
The specialized care SURVIVORS provides these vulnerable individuals helps them to
become self-sufficient and healthy members of their families and of our community.
Consulates
The Consulate of Mexico in San Diego can help with issuing passports and other
documents or information for Mexican immigrants.
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