Jewish Family Service stands ready to Welcome the Stranger with dignity and respect and is actively assisting Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and Parolee arrivals from Afghanistan. As one of the primary refugee resettlement agencies in San Diego, JFS has already resettled 423 individuals comprising 112 families* from Afghanistan since August 6. Our staff and volunteers will remain at-the-ready to accept more families in the coming days, weeks, and months.
*Updated January 18, 2022
We are grateful to the many partners, supporters, and volunteers who make this vital humanitarian work possible. Together we ensure that San Diego remains a welcoming place for those in search of a safer life—free from violence and persecution. Your support will provide stability and hope—empowering refugees to build brighter futures for their families.
The men, women, and children who fled Afghanistan escaped with little to no belongings and continue to arrive to our community with barely more than the clothes on their backs. And while Afghanistan may no longer be a hot topic on the nightly news, our humanitarian efforts have not stopped. There are many more still waiting to come to the United States who were first relocated to military bases and other countries.
As new refugees make their way to San Diego, additional support will be needed beyond their first 90 days to successfully navigate a new country, learn a new language, complete immigration documents, enroll their children in school, apply for work and more. Together we can provide vital aid, guidance, and support so our newest neighbors can find the freedom everyone deserves.
If you are looking for ways show your support, please make a donation to the JFS Welcome the Stranger Fund. Your gift makes our vital humanitarian response possible—empowering refugees to rebuild their lives and welcoming immigrants with compassion.