SDIRC Work & Accomplishments in 2021

The San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium seeks to continue fostering our region’s values by defending the civil and human rights of immigrants and refugees, educating and empowering immigrants and refugees on their rights and the resources available to them, and countering the myths and untruths made about immigrants and refugees. Here's what we did in 2021 to advance that mission:

  • Advocated with other partners and won an Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs at the County.

  • The San Diego Board of Supervisors put the VISION Act on the County’s legislative priorities, and the County advocated in favor of the bill. 

  • SDIRC continued participation in the Ice Out Of CA Coalition and signed on as a VISION Act co-sponsor. As a VISION Act co-sponsor, SDIRC organized and mobilized  coalition partners to legislative meetings. 

  • Held a Facebook live on the expansion of the California Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to immigrants who file taxes with an individual tax identification number (ITIN).

  • Advocated with other partners and won a County Immigrant Rights Legal Defense Fund. Our suggestions during the implementation work on the fund were incorporated into the establishment of the fund. 

  • The SDIRC Immigrant Relief Fund continued helping families in San Diego County who had been impacted economically by the COVID-19 pandemic and issued 779 checks this year  in the amount of $1500, an increase from last year’s grants. 

  • The Borderlands Get Free Fund raised over $25,000 between grants and fundraiser, and helped 6 individuals get out of detention.

  • SDIRC mobilized 52 individuals to participate during Immigrant Day.

  • We welcomed 4 new members: US Committee on Refugees and Immigrants, Immigrant Defenders, United US Deported Veterans, Al Otro Lado, Comunidad de Apoyo San Diego.

  • We updated and released our revised SB 54 Report.

  • SDIRC defeated a highly restrictive sidewalk vendor ordinance in the City of San Marcos.

  • We successfully prevented a vote on the City of San Diego sidewalk vendor ordinance and got it sent back to committee for early 2022.

- Held an informational meeting with 35 sidewalk vendors hosted by Access Inc. in councilmember Raul Campillo’s district (D7).

  • Held a press conference on Border Patrol cover up units (critical incident investigation teams) and called for the District Attorney to prosecute border patrol agents for obstruction of justice in the Anastasio Hernandez Rojas case. 

  • Mobilized partners for a successful TRUTH Act Forum.

- 46 in person / over the phone comments

- Over 100 comments submitted

- Educated and engaged new supervisors on the issue of DHS entanglement

- Dominated the narrative and media coverage of the issue.

- Conducted an online teach-in on the collaboration between the sheriff and ICE

- Along with other partners from the regional capacity building project, SDIRC was honored with an award from CIPC.

  • Advocated alongside state-wide partners for a legislative priorities which resulted in the passing of AB 4 Health4All.

  • SDIRC continued partnering with state and national partners, and signed onto numerous sign-on letters, including letters in support of a path to citizenship, end of MPP, end to Title 42.

  • SDIRC members provided testimony during a congressional hearing about the border.

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