Immigrants, refugees and those seeking safety at our borders deserve to be welcomed into healthy environments, and to be treated with dignity and respect, especially during times of crisis or emergency. However, the unsanitary and squalid conditions at Otay Mesa Detention Facility and the neglect and abuse detainees face at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has lead to the death of 57-year old Carlos Ernesto Escobar Mejia, the first detained person to die of COVID-19.

On March 30, 2020, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported its first positive case of a detainee with COVID 19 detainee. Since then, the virus has spread rapidly to close to 1,000 people in detention centers across the country, where they are cramped in notoriously unsanitary conditions. Despite numerous pleas by family members, lawyers and advocates to protect the health and well-being of those under ICE custody, there has been no change, and those detained continue to suffer.

During this pandemic, it’s more important than ever to make sure that all San Diegans are counted accurately for the 2020 Census, so that our communities can receive the representation and resources we need.

In the midst of a pandemic, the city budget process provides an opportunity to prioritize our values, plan for recovery, and invest in an inclusive economy where all San Diegans can thrive. During this time city government has an opportunity to invest in the common good, so that our communities thrive and all San Diegans are better able to achieve their full potential.