(Image Credit: IMAGN) Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, is on March 5, 2025 this year. Lent is a period of prayer, fasting, and giving for Christians. Ashes represent death and repentance, reminding Christians of human mortality. This is the Ash Wednesday service at Saint Paul The Apostle Catholic Church in Spartanburg. Reyna Garcia of Spartanburg in prayer after receiving her Ashes at the service.
San Diego, California – Catholic Charities of San Diego is significantly reducing its migrant support operations following a major border policy shift under President Donald Trump. The organization, which previously transported asylum-seekers to its Mission Valley shelter, is halting these efforts due to changes in federal funding and border enforcement policies.
“There’s not a humanitarian crisis,” said Vino Pajanor, CEO of Catholic Charities. “For us, we have to always be responsible and accountable to the tax dollars that are invested into us as an agency.”
As the Trump administration freezes funding and tightens restrictions at the border, Catholic Charities is being forced to scale back its migrant programs, leading to layoffs. The organization will shut down operations at its 800-bed migrant respite shelter, reducing its services to a smaller, as-needed presence.
The cuts will result in the layoffs of 42 employees in San Diego and another 31 in Imperial County. The trend is being seen at Catholic Charities branches across the country as federal funding dwindles.
Despite the layoffs, Pajanor emphasized that affected employees are being offered positions in other programs within the organization, including food pantries, low-income senior housing, and homeless shelters.
At the height of the migrant surge, Catholic Charities received approximately $9 million in federal funding, accounting for a significant portion of its $46 million annual budget. Over the past four years, the organization has provided aid to 405,000 migrants from 146 countries.
Tessla Tinkler, director of research at an organization tracking nonprofit funding cuts, noted the widespread impact of the federal freeze.
“Seventy-two percent, so nearly three-quarters, reported that they either had direct impacts already or were anticipating impacts very soon. Nearly a third have already had to modify programs or, in some cases, even discontinue some services,” Tinkler said.
In response to the funding shortfall, Pajanor said Catholic Charities is seeking alternative financial support from private donors, philanthropic organizations, and community partnerships.
The layoffs are set to take effect at the end of April. Jewish Family Services has also announced potential staffing reductions at its migrant shelters due to similar funding challenges.
