Each year, SDIRC gives out awards to organizations and individuals who have gone above and beyond in advancing immigrant and refugee rights and helping immigrant and refugee communities. There are two divisions for the awards — external and internal.
The external division is to recognize partners who are not SDIRC members for the important work they've done over the year. The internal division is for organizations that are SDIRC members, and is to recognize excellent work within the coalition.
This year there were many excellent nominees (to see the full list click here), so selecting the recipients was no easy task!
SDIRC would like to congratulate each of the 2020 SDIRC Award recipients, listed below, and thank them for their work in 2020, and beyond!
2020 Public Partner of the Year
Consulado General de México en San Diego for providing financial support to Mexican nationals needing support for USCIS fees and other needs, and for speaking out against border patrol violence.
2020 Outstanding Coverage of Immigrant Issues
Kate Morrissey, San Diego Union Tribune for her work on the Returned series and for her reporting on asylum seekers.
2020 Community Partner of the Year
Detention Resistance for their incredible efforts to fight back against the horrific conditions at Otay Mesa Detention Facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020 Elected Official of the Year
Supervisor Nathan Fletcher for pushing to hold the TRUTH Act forum during a time that was convenient and accessible for most community members, making certain to ask the questions that community members were not able to ask during the forum, and for his strong commitment to holding the Sheriff accountable to SB 54.
2020 Worker Justice Partner of the Year
San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO for mobilizing union members across the county to hold food banks each weekend during the pandemic.
2020 Legal Partner of the Year
ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties for their legal work to hold ICE and private detention facilities accountable for the horrific conditions they are holding people under during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their tireless efforts led to the release of over a hundred individuals who were medically vulnerable and at high risk of catching COVID-19.
2020 Faith Partner of the Year
Jewish Family Service of San Diego for direct services provided, participation in litigation and sheltering services for folks being released from DHS custody, and helping distribute millions of dollars from the state Disaster Relief Assistance for Immigrants program to immigrants in San Diego and Imperial counties.
2020 Community Organization of the Year
AFSC San Diego for their work and campaign to highlight various issues immigrants face, including the situation at the Otay Mesa Detention Facility. AFSC also worked to bring attention to the unaccountability and brutality of immigration agents at the border.
SDIRC thanks you all for your amazing work!