Hundreds of asylum officers went through training Tuesday to learn how to follow the Biden administration’s newest restrictions, Camilo Montoya-Galvez reports for CBS News. The rule will reportedly disqualify most all asylum seekers who fail to pursue refuge in a third country on the way to the U.S. or otherwise follow a limited number of lawful immigration pathways to get here. (To be clear, asylum is also a legal pathway, and the right to seek it is protected under U.S. and international law.)  

This sweeping regulation is the culmination of "a growing bipartisan rejection of the [U.S.'s] asylum laws," and — coupled with increased deportations or even potential criminal prosecutions for repeat crossings — it is in many ways more extreme than the current Title 42 policy, Montoya-Galvez suggests.  

Yet migrants and asylum seekers are still lining up en masse in Mexico, buying pool floats and life jackets in anticipation of crossing the Rio Grande, Julio-César Chávez and Lizbeth Díaz report for Reuters. The story of one Venezuelan mother, reported by Matt Rivers at ABC News, reveals the sheer desperation and determination driving so many people to our southern border: Mildret Paz gave birth to her now 1-month-old baby, Melany, in the dangerous Darién Gap. Then, she and her family kept walking.  

"We want to give our children better lives," Paz said. "I can't give that to them in Venezuela." 

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 Alexandra Villarreal, Clara Villatoro and Katie Lutz. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

‘AFFECTS ALL OF US’ — Texas business owners across the state are advocating for immigration reforms to counter labor shortages, reports Mariza Mendoza of WOAI. "This broken immigration system affects all of us on all levels at all sectors," said local business owner Marc Rodriguez. Business representatives noted that immigrants are essential to key sectors of the Texas economy. Separately, in Minnesota, employers continue to share their concerns about large labor shortages in the state, per Al Lohman of the SunPatriot. 

CONCERNS IN FLORIDA — In Florida, Hispanic leaders, including businesses, advocates and faith leaders, urged Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) not to sign the sweeping anti-immigration bill the Legislature passed last week, reports Albert Pefley of CBS12. Dozens of people gathered outside Palm Beach County Courthouse early this week, warning that the bill "will be a disaster" not only for immigrants but for Florida’s economy.  

VIGILANTE FEARS — Republican lawmakers in Texas resuscitated their proposal for a controversial Border Protection Unit to conduct immigration enforcement in the state, James Barragán and Alexa Ura report for The Texas Tribune. Already, some of Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) policies are challenging the federal government’s immigration enforcement authority, J. David Goodman reports for the New York Times. But border crossings have continued to increase — a sign that enforcement alone is not the answer.

HEALTH CARE ACCESS — Noncitizens comprise 6% of the total U.S. population, but 23% of the nation's uninsured, Megan Messerly reports for Politico. Inaction in Congress has punted the issue to states, where some lawmakers are struggling to balance the need for health care with concerns about the costs of expanded coverage. 

Thanks for reading,

Dan 

P.S. To end on a happier note, congratulations to my friend Naoko, a native of Japan who recently passed her U.S. citizenship test. As I wrote yesterday: To all new citizens, thank you for your faith in the USA. It's a better place with you in it.