Biweekly Policy Briefing Issue XXXII: Borders, Budgets, & Ballots

Hello again.

In his State of the Union address this week, President Donald Trump urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act which would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections. The president positioned the legislation as a central component of his administration’s broader push for stricter federal oversight of voting processes. You can fact-check the nearly two-hour address here.

Here’s a look at what happened this week. (Catch up on our previous installments of this briefing here.)

THE FACTS

BUDGETS

• The partial government shutdown is in its second week with no agreement in sight yet. Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked another bill that would have funded the Department of Homeland Security. The bill still did not address the changes Democrats are seeking to ICE enforcement tactics. 
• The San Diego City Council reviewed its mid-year budget monitoring report this week. When the report was released in January, it projected a $16.8 million shortfall. Updated financial data has narrowed that gap to $1.8 million. The council will attempt to close the remaining gap through cost-cutting measures as the budget process moves forward. 

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Implications for funders: Ongoing federal, state and local budget uncertainty may increase strain on safety-net providers. Continued shutdown threats and fiscal instability create uncertainty for residents, businesses and service providers, making it more difficult to plan, operate and meet community needs.

BORDER & IMMIGRATION

• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has released a proposed rule requiring recipients of federal housing assistance to provide proof of citizenship or legal status within 90 days of the rule taking effect. Federal law currently allows mixed-status families to receive benefits. Under the proposed rule, family members without legal status would have to be removed from the household or the family would lose their benefits. Public comments on the proposed rule are due April 21.
  • The rule could strip benefits from approximately 80,000 people, including individuals with legal status who are able to provide sufficient documentation. The rule would disproportionately affect children. 

• Two San Diego County supervisors and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla were blocked this week from entering the Otay Mesa immigrant detention center. The supervisors said they had received written permission earlier in the week. A public health inspector had been given limited access, but not the access expected for a public health inspection. After the supervisors joined the inspector, officials said approval to enter the facility had been rescinded. Senator Padilla’s visit was unannounced and he attempted to gain access for an hour but was denied.
• Thirty-three regional elected officials sent a letter to the Escondido Police Department this week urging it to stop allowing ICE agents to use its outdoor training facility. The contract was reviewed Wednesday, and residents spoke on both sides of the issue. Councilmember Consuelo Martinez called for terminating the contract, but the mayor and other councilmembers declined to take up the issue.
• An ICE instructor-turned-whistleblower testified before Congress on Monday that recruitment efforts have led to significant cuts in new agent training, including the removal of most instruction on protesters’ rights. The instructor resigned earlier this month in protest.
• Although the San Diego region has not experienced the same surge in ICE activity seen elsewhere, enforcement has increased over the past year, with more than 5,000 arrests. 

Implications for funders: Contact us to participate in coordinated efforts among funders to support immigrant communities in the region. Immigration enforcement is escalating nationwide, and funders can prepare by learning from developments in other states and by ensuring that grantees and staff know their rights and have rapid response plans in place. Funders should anticipate increased demand for immigration legal services, language access, and basic needs support as families disengage from systems they previously relied on.

REDISTRICTING

• On April 21, Virginia voters will consider a constitutional amendment that could shift four Republican-held seats to Democratic control.
• Five states have already changed their district maps. Three more have changed maps due to litigation, and three others are considering changes.
• An interactive map showing changes to San Diego’s districts following Proposition 50 has been released.

OTHER

• The U.S. Census Bureau released a proposal  that would significantly scale back its 2026 operational test. A reduced test could undermine efforts to improve 2030 census operations. The Leadership Conference has drafted a letter in response and encourages organizations to sign on or submit their own letters. Submitting comments on proposed agency rules or notices is not considered lobbying.
• California state Sen. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, introduced SB 1240 last week. The bill would establish an Office of Nonprofit Empowerment to strengthen collaboration between the state and nonprofit partners. 
• More than a dozen states have sued the Trump administration over its rollback of childhood vaccine recommendations. The new guidance recommends vaccinating only high-risk children against flu, rotavirus, Hepatitis A and B, some forms of meningitis, and RSV. Plaintiffs argue the changes could trigger a costly and dangerous public health emergency.
• After a failed attempt late last year, a revised tax on vacant second homes passed in committee at the San Diego City Council on Wednesday. The earlier proposal would have taxed both vacant homes and full-time vacation homes. The full council will vote Monday on whether to place the measure on the June 2 ballot.

TAKEAWAYS & RESOURCES

• Interested in advocacy? Join Catalyst for an Advocacy 101 session as part of the Fundamentals Academy on March 10.
• Explore the Catalyst Data Hub for a comprehensive and transparent look at the region’s giving landscape. Register for a funder-specific or nonprofit-specific walkthrough.
• Join Funders Together for Housing Justice on March 10 for a funder call on the proposed rule affecting mixed status households that receive federal housing assistance. 
• Join Philanthropy CA, GCIR, and Orange County Grantmakers on March 26  to learn how communities are responding to ICE deployments and how philanthropy can strengthen nonprofit infrastructure and narrative strategies.
• Travel with us for Sacramento Day: Interested in attending April 7–8? Register today to join this annual educational visit, which offers lawmakers’ briefings and on-site support for meetings with legislators.
• Check out All By April to learn about concentrated efforts to fund 501(c)3 organizations early to ensure free, fair, and representative elections.

Talk to you soon,

Megan Thomas
President & CEO
Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties