Migrants and asylum seekers in San Diego after traveling from different parts of the world in an undated photo.
The funding should be available by the end of May, with proposals due in June and a contract awarded in July, according to Vargas' office.The board voted Tuesday after hearing an update from Barbara Jimenez of the county's Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities. She went through the steps county officials have taken since the FEMA money was first made available, including a meeting with nonprofits that assist migrants.
Just as he did in late April, Supervisor Jim Desmond voted no, saying the money doesn't equal a long-term plan for a national migration crisis. More people are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border than the Border Patrol can manage, which is a safety concern, Desmond said. He said more than 80% of migrants claiming asylum don't qualify, and there's no recourse for those who don't show up to their court date.