DEPARTMENT: Government & Public Affairs
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jeff Coyle
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S) IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT: Federal Update - Request for Federal Reimbursement and Assistance for Services provided to Migrant Asylum Seekers
SUMMARY:
The Intergovernmental Relations Committee (IGR) will receive an update briefing on the Migrant Resource Center and the City's efforts to request reimbursement and assistance from the federal government to address the increase of individuals transiting through San Antonio as they move through the asylum process.
BACKGROUND:
Since March 30th, the City of San Antonio has been working with Catholic Charities, the Interfaith Welcome Coalition (IWC), the San Antonio Food Bank, Travis Park Church and other non-profit partners and community volunteers to assist asylum seekers traveling through San Antonio to reach their final destinations with designated sponsors. These individuals are transported to San Antonio from federal agencies after they have been processed at the US-Mexico border and assigned court dates for asylum hearings throughout the country.
City Council has approved allocations of up to $141,000 for the remainder of fiscal year 2019 to help support nonprofit agencies providing support, food and sheltering and City staff continues to volunteer at the resource center. Government & Public Affairs (GPA) is engaging the federal government on identifying funds for reimbursement and to address the large number of individuals and families moving through communities on and near the border.
The City and its nonprofit partners are providing a compassionate layover that includes shelter, meals, travel assistance, and medical triage to these individuals so that they can safely arrive at their designated locations. United States Customs and Border Protection has notified the City that we will continue to see increased numbers of asylum seekers transiting through San Antonio for the foreseeable future. While most individuals be...
Click here for full text