California helped build a network of health screening centers near the Mexico border to catch COVID-19, vaccinate asylum seekers and treat injuries from the journey. Now the state wants to walk away from that bill.
According to Kaiser Health News, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed phasing out state support for the centers as part of a plan to address a $22.5 billion budget deficit. The move would push the work back onto federal grants and local governments.
- Three state-funded centers operate near the California-Mexico border, with two located in San Diego County and a third in Imperial County.
- The centers have served more than 300,000 immigrants since April 2021.
- California has spent more than $1 billion on humanitarian efforts since 2019.
- A federal Shelter and Services Grant Program is releasing $800 million in new funds.
- The state is ending its COVID emergency on February 28.
What the centers actually do
Buses and vans pull up after federal immigration officers offload asylum seekers, many from Brazil, Cuba, Colombia and Peru. Inside, providers offer water, food, masks, COVID tests, vaccines, and isolation for positive cases. They also treat injuries and check for chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure.
It is not glamorous work. It is frontline public health at a high-traffic border, and the clock matters because some of these people are sick before they ever walk through the door.
Where the money goes and where it might come from
The state funding was always meant to be a stopgap. With the COVID emergency ending, the Newsom administration argues the original justification has expired. The federal government is releasing $800 million through the Shelter and Services Grant Program to local governments and NGOs, and the White House is in talks about further support.
That is cold comfort to the operators on the ground. Jewish Family Services in San Diego, which runs a center with a second major partner, said it is continuing operations and asking all levels of government to step up. UC San Diego plays a supporting clinical role, with most academic medical costs covered federally while state dollars pay nurses and contractors.
What this means for you
If you live near the border, the centers are a local public health line of defense. If they close or scale back, the pressure shifts to emergency rooms, county clinics and volunteer groups. The people most affected are the migrants, but the second-order effects land on local health systems.
The decision is also a national signal. California funded the program as a deliberate response to Trump-era immigration policy. Pulling that funding now is a fiscal choice with political weight, and it tells other border states what California thinks is expendable.
Our analysis
The Newsom administration is balancing a real deficit against a real obligation. Defensible on paper, brutal in practice. The state built a system that worked, and dismantling it before a clear federal replacement is in place is a gamble.
The deeper question is who pays for border health. Republicans in California, including Senate Majority Leader Brian Jones, argue immigration is a federal responsibility and the state has done enough. Democrats, including San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, are pushing for local bridge funding. Both sides have a point, and neither has a fully funded solution.
Say you are a nurse at a county clinic in San Diego. You have spent two years getting asylum seekers vaccinated, treated for injuries and connected to chronic care. The state-funded center down the road closes, and those patients start showing up in your waiting room with no records, no insurance and serious needs. That is the scenario the funding cut creates.
What to watch next
Watch the May revised budget, when Newsom is expected to share more detail. Watch the federal Shelter and Services Grant disbursement. Watch local governments in San Diego and Imperial counties to see who steps in with bridge funding.
- California is ending its COVID emergency on February 28, ahead of the new budget year.
- Federal money is available, but not yet committed at the scale needed.
- Local operators are asking all levels of government to keep the system running.
- The final decision sits in the May revised budget.
Key takeaways
- State support for border migrant health centers is on the chopping block as California closes a $22.5 billion deficit.
- More than 300,000 people have used the program since 2021, and the work goes well beyond COVID testing.
- Federal funds exist, but local operators warn the gap is real and the timeline is short.
Frequently asked questions
What is California proposing to cut?
State support for three migrant health screening centers near the Mexico border, as part of addressing a $22.5 billion deficit.
Who runs the centers today?
Jewish Family Services of San Diego is one of the main operators; UC San Diego provides supporting medical care through a partnership with the Diocese of San Diego's Catholic Charities.
How many migrants have used the centers?
More than 300,000 immigrants have been served since the program began in April 2021.
Is federal money available?
Yes. The Shelter and Services Grant Program is releasing $800 million for local governments and NGOs serving immigrants.
When will the final decision be made?
Governor Newsom is expected to share more detail in the May revised budget, before legislative negotiations begin.