Want to get involved in supporting San Diego's immigrant communities? Here's how.
San Diego has many grassroots and nonprofit organizations that help local immigrant in different ways.
Written by Kate Morrissey, Edited by Maya Srikrishnan
We've been getting questions about how you can get involved and help support San Diego immigrant communities, especially in the wake of Immigration and Customs Enforcement killing a woman in Minnesota.
Finding ways to help locally can help you feel less hopeless in the face of difficult news. Here are some ways to participate in the San Diego area.
Some organizations are looking for volunteers while others are looking for donations. Some need both. Volunteers can help patrol communities, conduct outreach to day laborers and document enforcement actions at the federal building. Some organizations are looking for monetary donations while others also accept items like household goods.
Know of one we missed? Feel free to message us, and we'll add it to our guide. Organizations are listed alphabetically.
Al Otro Lado (donation opportunities): Al Otro Lado is looking for donations of jackets and socks for its desert water drop program.
American Friends Service Committee U.S.-Mexico Border Program (donation opportunities): People interested in supporting on-the-ground work with immigrant communities and documentation of government actions can donate to this organization.
Casa Cornelia Law Center (donation opportunities): People interested in supporting legal services for immigrants locally can donate to Casa Cornelia.
City Heights Defense Committee (volunteer opportunities): The City Heights Defense Committee patrols the neighborhood of City Heights to watch for signs of ICE activity. People interested in getting involved can follow and contact the organization via Instagram.
Detention Resistance (volunteer and donation opportunities): People interested in supporting through this group can volunteer to help monitor immigration court and other enforcement actions in and around the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building in downtown San Diego. The group especially needs volunteers who speak languages besides English. Volunteers also maintain communication with people held at Otay Mesa Detention Center. The group is also accepting donations to put money on commissary accounts for people in custody there. People interested in volunteering can email detentionresistance@gmail.com, and those interested in donating can send money to the group's Venmo account.
Employee Rights Center (volunteer and donation opportunities): The Employee Rights Center is gathering volunteers and donations to support immigrant families affected by immigration enforcement operations. People interested in getting involved can call 619-521-1372 or contact the organization online.
Fairmount Haitian Community Church (donation opportunities): The Fairmount Haitian Community Church is gathering supplies including food, water, diapers and feminine hygiene products for families affected by immigration enforcement as well as monetary donations to assist with housing. People interested in supporting can bring items to 4100 Fairmount Ave., San Diego, CA, 92105 or call Rev. Johny Oxeda at 619-815-6913.
Faithful Accompaniment in Hope and Trust (volunteer and donation opportunities): Run by the Catholic Diocese of San Diego, FAITH volunteers monitor immigration enforcement activity at the downtown federal building and accompany immigrants who have court hearings or appointments there. People interested in getting involved can sign up online for training or donate online.
Haitian Bridge Alliance (volunteer and donation opportunities): Haitian Bridge Alliance is gathering supplies for families affected by ICE activity as well as volunteers to support them. People interested in getting involved can call the office at 619-215-1050 or 619-228-9576.
Immigration Justice Project (volunteer and donation opportunities): San Diego’s American Bar Association’s Immigration Justice Project depends on pro-bono attorneys to provide legal services to immigrants. Attorneys, law students and interpreters can volunteer their services by contacting IJP at probono@abaijp.org. IJP also accepts monetary donations.
Immigrant Defenders Law Center (donation opportunities): People interested in supporting legal counsel for immigrants facing deportation and legal action pushing for systemic change can donate to ImmDef by purchasing ImmDef merchandise or donating funds or giving in-kind donations, including gift cards to groceries stores or places like Target and Walmart, packaged snacks, school supplies, backpacks, transportation passes and toiletry kits for ImmDef clients.
Mutual Aid for Moms (volunteer and donation opportunities): People interested in helping through this group provide support to unhoused immigrant families can fill out a volunteer form or donate through the group's Venmo account. The group is running several donation campaigns this month for specific families in need. The group posts details about families in need and current campaigns on its Instagram account.
National Day Laborer Organizing Network (volunteer opportunities): This national organization hosts trainings for people to learn how to support day laborers in their region. After the training, it connects attendees with others in their area who are already volunteering.
Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (PANA) (donation opportunities): People interested in supporting immigrants and refugees with mutual aid, emergency and legal assistance, supporting a Youth Congress and the purchase of community land for long-term power building can support PANA with a monetary donation.
Pope Francis Center (donation opportunities): A new center opened by the Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish is looking for monetary donations as well as items for immigrants in need. The money will help pay for a legal team and case managers for the center.
San Diego Organizing Project (volunteer and donation opportunities): A faith-based collective, San Diego Organizing Project volunteers monitor immigration enforcement activity at the downtown federal building with the FAITH collective as well as respond to other community needs as they arise. People interested in getting involved can join a congregation's organizing group or learn how to start one with their own congregation through the organization's website.
SD Bike Brigade (volunteer and donation opportunities): People interested in assisting through this group can send money via Venmo to add to the commissary accounts of immigrants held at Otay Mesa Detention Center. The group is also looking for legal volunteers to support a group of women held in the facility and volunteers who speak various languages to visit with people held in custody.
Somos TIAS (donation opportunities): People interested in supporting immigrant families in North County can donate to this group.
Unión del Barrio (volunteer and donation opportunities): People interested in getting involved in community patrols can volunteer via an online form or make donations via the group's website.
We All We Got San Diego (volunteer and donation opportunities): People interested in helping through this mutual aid group can email weallwegotsandiego@gmail.com and indicate that they would like to know how they can help. Volunteer opportunities include delivering groceries to immigrants who are afraid to leave their homes, picking up produce to distribute, delivering furniture and helping with food distributions. The group is also accepting monetary donations to buy public transit passes for volunteers who monitor immigration court, flights and Lyfts for immigrants and food distribution. The group said that money for flights, either in the form of airline gift cards or a Venmo donation with a plane emoji, are especially needed. The group also welcomes referrals for people who need these forms of aid.
Updated on Sept. 17, 2026 at 12:07 p.m. with additional organizations.
