(The New York Times’ Miriam Jordan and Edgar Sandoval go big-picture on this.) 

Several protesters still don’t know whether their family members or friends were among those killed or injured in the deadly fire. 

Both Mexico and the U.S. must protect migrants, as the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board writes: "Although no country can accept every single person wishing to move there, at the very least there should be a safe, humane and orderly process for migrants, something both the U.S. and Mexico have committed to in several national and international agreements. Whether we like it or not, the immigration policies of both countries are inextricably intertwined." 

We’re taking to heart the clarion call from Bishop Mark Seitz, a Forum Board member and the U.S. bishops’ conference migration committee chair, as reported by John Lavenburg of The Tablet. "Our brother and sister migrants, who are in many cases fleeing extreme violence, persecution, and extreme poverty, deserve dignity, compassion, and the protection of their human rights as children of God," Bishop Seitz said. "I will continue to call for just and humane immigration policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people."  

Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Dan Gordon, the Forum’s strategic communications VP, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Dynahlee Padilla-Vasquez, Clara Villatoro and Katie Lutz. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

VISAS BILL — Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), along with several bipartisan co-sponsors, proposed a bill Monday that would reform H-1B and L-1 visas, The Economic Times reports. The legislation aims "for more transparency in the recruitment of foreign workers," according to the report.  

BORDER TRIP REALITIES — On frequent trips to the border, GOP lawmakers have fueled a narrative on immigration challenges that misses some of what's happening on the ground, reports Karoun Demirjian of The New York Times. Difficulties at the border are evolving, and "many migrant advocates worry the scale of human suffering at the border will get worse," Demirjian notes.  

LATEST CALLS — More than 100 House Democrats sent a letter to President Biden Tuesday to voice "serious concerns" over the administration’s potential use of migrant family detention, Suzanne Monyak of Roll Call reports. "We urge you to consider … important and proven alternatives to detention and reject resurrecting family detention," the group wrote. A dozen leading medical organizations expressed their own concerns in a letter last week. 

WELCOME BLANKETS — Volunteers sewed, crocheted and knitted at least 86 artistic blankets as gifts for refugees and immigrants to make them feel welcomed, reports Lisa Rathke of the Associated Press. "This makes my heart warm. I can’t thank them enough," Kalyan Adhikari, who’s originally from Nepal, said of those who took part in the national Welcome Blanket project. 

Thanks for reading, 

Dan