Border and Immigration Funder Briefing

Immigration infrastructure in our region has been inadequate and inhumane for many years, regardless of who has sat in the White House. In the current immigration system, people wait for up to 20 years to have their case resolved and receive the legal right to remain in this country. We detain thousands of people per day, deporting hundreds.  

What has changed under the current administration is the rhetoric and visible show of force.  While immigration enforcement has been present for years, now an even broader group of people are being targeted. The increased presence of military and police forces at the border and in communities is striking. 

Nonprofit organizations and community groups in the United States and Mexico are providing legal services, informational support, and humanitarian aid to thousands of people, while also advocating for policy and budget decisions to create a sensible, humane border.  

On February 5, 2025 Catalyst held a Funder Briefing to update our members on the current situation, and how funders can activate now to help.

During this briefing, we learned:

• Needs are increasing exponentially. Many of the numerous executive orders and new policies issued are illegal and unconstitutional, making litigation and advocacy critical. Know Your Rights trainings and legal consultations are needed at community organizations, businesses, schools, and more to help citizens counteract threats. Training and legal defense are also needed for incarcerated individuals as detention centers fill from stepped-up raids. Additionally, families are in need of support to plan what they will do if loved ones are detained or deported.  
• Increased enforcement will require money from Congress. With limited immigration infrastructure, increased enforcement comes at a price, and Congressional action is needed to allocate funding. Advocates are organized to block the process of “budget reconciliation,” which is likely the only way to get funds approved because it reduces the number of votes needed to 50. With the vote happening in March, advocacy funding is needed urgently
• Asylum pathways are blocked. Appointments have been cancelled and people are being turned away when they present themselves at the border. With no legal options, migrants either become stranded in Mexico or resort to one of the many criminal enterprises offering help and suffer from abuse and extortion. 
• Coalitions are forming and re-energizing. We Are California is advocating for economic, racial, and immigration justice. The San Diego Rapid Response Network provides legal services, Know Your Rights trainings, community preparation, organizing, and advocacy. In Imperial Valley, a rapid response network is forming to provide community training, family preparedness, and legal support. All of these direct service and advocacy networks need flexible funding to scale their efforts. 
• Mexican civil society organizations are under pressure. As the regular flow of people halts, the network of 40 shelters and other providers are doing their best to meet a growing need in Mexico. Already chronically underfunded with little government support, once stable organizations are having to dip into reserves and cut health and employment services in favor of basic humanitarian support. If you or your organization are interested in supporting this work, International Community Foundation’s Border Fund offers a mechanism to provide funds in Mexico. 

The Takeaways: What Philanthropy Can Do 

• Reach out to your current grantees and inquire what they need. Convert existing grants to unrestricted, flexible funding, or deploy new funds. 

• Get in touch with organizations already doing work in advocacy, litigation, legal defense, community rights and preparedness, and humanitarian aid to see how you can help. 

• Contribute to a pooled fund. Catalyst’s Rapid Response Border Fund will be reactivated as needed for US efforts and for support in Mexico, ICF’s Border Fund is open. Contact Megan to learn more and get involved. 

• Join our Binational Migration Funders meeting to discuss what comes next for funders. Registration is not yet open, but if you are interested in joining this conversation indicate your interest here and we will reach out with more details shortly. 

• Join us for a funder visit to the border this Spring. Do the Work: Border Region will take you through San Diego and Tijuana to have conversations with the community organizations and migrants who are living this every day.