The anticipated end of the pandemic-era policy Title 42 happened at 11:59 PM last night with the end of the public health emergency. Starting today, we’ll unfold the result of three years of a policy that allowed the rapid expulsion of migrants to Mexico and limited their chances to seek protection. Truthfully, the end of the policy has put additional strain on our already-taxed system and led to confusion for many.   

Detentions at the border have reached record highs as Title 42 ends and migrants lined up to cross, report Liliana Salgado and Ted Hesson of Reuters. 

In Texas, some places like Kinney County started using aggressive tactics to arrest migrants even before the end of the policy, reports Arelis R. Hernández for The Washington Post. Separately, in Arizona, some sheriffs expressed their concerns on the post-Title 42 measures and expressed the need to address the failures of our current immigration system, per Jimmy Jenkins of Arizona Republic. 

"The idea that we’re not capable of securing our border and improving and addressing the failures in our immigration system is nonsense," said Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone. 

This week, the Biden administration announced that it would adopt a new federal regulation that will severely restrict asylum access and eligibility in the United States right after the end of Title 42. Immigration advocates reacted to this new policy, including the Forum and nearly 40 members of the Alliance for a New Immigration Consensus (ANIC). Faith-based refugee agencies also expressed their opposition to the policy, report Yonat Shimron and Alejandra Molina of RNS. A group of reporters at the New York Times have also shared a guide to what the process at the border will look like.  

And last night, a federal judge in Florida temporarily blocked the Biden administration from continuing a migrant release policy, which has raised concerns about overcrowding at the border detention centers, per Camilo Montoya-Galvez of CBS News. 

Welcome to Friday's edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Becka Wall, the Forum’s digital communications VP, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Clara Villatoro, Sam Benson, Keylla Ortega and Katie Lutz. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to us at media@immigrationforum.org. 

FEAR — Immigration advocates are warning that the new legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday is already creating fear in communities, reports Ivan Taylor of CBS News Miami. "Currently we are facing the reality that people in Homestead are very scared," said Ivette Cruz from South Florida Farmers Association. The bill will be effective on July 1, but some immigrants like Dolores Luca from Guatemala are already considering leaving Florida. "I have to do it for the sake of my children," she said. 

IMMIGRATION REFORM — In South Carolina, evangelical pastors are calling out for immigration reform and expressing concerns about some immigration policies on the table, per Will Davis in an op-ed for Post and Courier.  "As an evangelical pastor, my prayer is that our lawmakers will craft and pass legislation rooted in biblical values", Davis writes. And on the current border situation, Hunter Baker writes for World about the need for real solutions.   

CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE — The construction sector has seen a decrease in the number of immigrant workers in recent years, which could end up in a housing shortage, reports Jasmine Cui of NBC News. Immigration policies have played a role: During the first year of Trump’s presidency, the number of immigrants entering the construction industry dropped roughly a third. Since then, the lack of workers has persisted. "For consumers, that worker shortage means higher prices," Cui writes. 

A LONG WAIT — Thousands of Afghans remain in the United Arab Emirates almost two years after their evacuation, reports Haley Britzky of CNN. After a long wait, evacuees are still in a legal limbo with no clear path to the U.S. or any other country. Meanwhile, U.S. citizens keep offering private sponsorship to support Afghan allies and, especially, "to bring endangered Afghan women to safety", George Packer writes for the Atlantic.  

And this week in local welcome: 

Thanks for reading,