Yesterday, Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-Florida) and Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) led a group of bipartisan lawmakers in introducing legislation that represents a good-faith attempt to update border and immigration processes.

The Dignity Act pairs increased funding and tougher measures at the border with an overhaul of current asylum procedures and timelines, a path to legal status through restitution for long-term undocumented residents, and expanded access to work visas, per Marianna Sotomayor and Theodoric Meyer at the Washington Post. [It also would offer a path to citizenship for Dreamers.] 

The bill reflects what the overwhelming majority of American voters say they want: for Republicans and Democrats to work together and pass immigration reforms that both address labor shortages and inflation and protect those who are already contributing to our nation.  

"All it takes to make this happen is 218 people in the House of Representatives saying that they’re ready for a real solution," Escobar said.  

We’re digging deeper into the bill, including provisions that may raise concerns. But as Jennie said yesterday, "It’s encouraging to see Republicans and Democrats working together." 

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, Katie Lutz, Keylla Ortega and Samuel Benson. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

IMMIGRANT WORKFORCE — Recent studies find that immigration in many cases improves economic indicators, reports Stuart Anderson for Forbes. The editors of Bloomberg call on the Biden administration to allow immediate work authorization for migrants — a step New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) have called for. Meanwhile, Onondaga County, N.Y., officials announced a lawsuit regarding potential transport of asylum seekers from New York City, Samantha Croston of CNY Central reports. But Cornell University law professor Stephen Yale-Loehr says legal paths and welcome would be better: "[T]hese migrants are actually going to help the economies of Upstate New York." 

TEXAS SUES — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing the Biden administration, claiming that its expanded use of the CBP One app circumvents federal laws, reports Adam Shaw of Fox News. Yes, CBP One has flaws, but it’s an attempt at creating more order at the border. Also in Texas, the state Senate gave initial passage to a concerning bill early Wednesday morning that would create a state border police force and impose new criminal penalties on migrants who enter between ports of entry, Jolie McCullough and James Barragán report for The Texas Tribune. 

FLORIDA LAW’S IMPACT — Economists and others are raising concerns in the wake of Florida’s new immigration law, reports David Lyons of the Sun Sentinel. People without authorization will leave the state because of challenges finding jobs, and "[t]hat’s going to hurt our economy, like it or not," says Monica Escaleras, economics department chair at the Florida Atlantic University College of Business. Separately, a group of Chinese immigrants residing in Florida is suing the state over a new law that bans Chinese nationals from purchasing property, Brendan Farrington reports for the Associated Press. 

WELCOMING — A church in Iowa recently hosted an event highlighting stories of local refugees and migrants, reports Aleisa Schat of N’West Iowa. "Immigrants and refugees are an important part of northwest Iowa culture, and we wanted to highlight their voices to help others become more aware of the diversity of experiences," said event organizer and Forum Midwest mobilizer Jason Lief. 

Thanks for reading, 

Dan