The Forum Daily | Tuesday June 20, 2023
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌


 

THE FORUM DAILY

Welcome to a slightly different Daily, devoted to marking World Refugee
Day <[link removed]>. 

Last week UNHCR, the U.N. refugee agency, announced
<[link removed]>
that forced displacement hit yet another new record in 2022. "People
around the world continue to show extraordinary hospitality for refugees
as they extend protection and help to those in need," said UN High
Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. "But much more international
support and more equitable responsibility sharing is required." 

According to UNHCR's new Global Trends Report
<[link removed]>, 108.4 million people
were forcibly displaced in 2022. Low- and middle-income countries hosted
76% of the world's refugees and other people in need of protection.
But the United States remains the world's largest recipient of new
claims from people seeking protection.  

Two-thirds of Americans agree that "it is important that the U.S.
welcome and preserve essential protections for people fleeing
persecution," even as the country addresses border challenges, according
to May polling
<[link removed]>.
The results point to the need to continue rebuilding our refugee
resettlement infrastructure - and for Congress to work on how better
to welcome others fleeing persecution while also prioritizing order at
the border. 

In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a message
<[link removed]> for today's
commemoration: "Refugees represent the very best of the human spirit.
They need and deserve support and solidarity - not closed borders and
pushbacks." 

Welcome to Tuesday's special edition of The Forum Daily honoring World
Refugee Day. I'm Dan Gordon, the Forum's strategic communications
VP, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Clara Villatoro,
Ashling Lee, Christian Blair and Katie Lutz. If you have a story to
share from your own community, please send it to me at
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>. 

'A PATHWAY TO SAFETY' - In a new blog post
<[link removed]>,
our policy expert Alexandra Villareal breaks down the opportunity for
Americans to sponsor refugees and others who have been displaced. "The
U.S. immigration system is deeply broken, and many of those needing
humanitarian assistance today have been categorically boxed out of
existing visas to get here," Villareal writes. But for many of them,
private sponsors "may even be able to offer the greatest gift of all -
a pathway to safety." 

HIRING, TRAINING - The Tent Partnership for Refugees announced over
the weekend that 40 companies have committed to hiring and training more
than 250,000 refugees across Europe, reports Camille Bello of Euronews
<[link removed]>.
"Our goal is to get them not only just meaningful employment but jobs
that they can continue to thrive and be able to continue value add to
our company," said J Ofori Agboka, who leads human resources for
worldwide operations at Amazon.  

**U.S. UPTICK** - The UNHCR report
<[link removed]> tallies 35.3 million
refugees worldwide. The Biden administration has set a "ceiling" of
125,000 refugee resettlements in fiscal year 2023. Eight months in, we
aren't close to reaching that cap. But trends are improving: More than
6,000 refugees have been resettled in each of the past three months. If
this trend continues, the U.S. could resettle about 60,000 refugees -
topping 50,000 for the first time since 2017, as our policy expert Dan
Kosten has noted. 

(ADVOCACY) RESOURCES - Although resettled Afghans aren't refugees
under the technical definition, it's as good a day as any to advocate
for the Afghan Adjustment Act. Our advocacy page
<[link removed]> includes links to in-depth Forum resources,
too. On refugees more broadly, the Forum has written about how strong
refugee resettlement boosts national security
<[link removed]>
and refugees' economic contributions
<[link removed]>,
among other topics. We're also proud to be a partner in the Refugee
Advocacy Lab <[link removed]>'s great work. 

LOCAL EVENTS - From naturalization ceremonies to vibrant cultural
celebrations, communities are highlighting diversity, fostering
inclusivity and support, and honoring refugees' strength, resilience
and contributions. Here is a sample, and look for more on We Are All
America <[link removed]>'s
interactive map.  

* Dallas-based Whose Books will celebrate World Refugee Day this evening
with a "Books and Brews" event featuring a panel discussion with
immigrant authors. (Michelle Aslam, KERA News
<[link removed]>)  

* Utah got an early start last week, naturalizing 100 citizens from 48
countries and emphasizing the importance of cultural diversity in
strengthening communities. (Jenny Carpenter, KSL.com
<[link removed]>) 

* World Refugee Day events in Boise and Twin Falls, Idaho, over the
weekend were slated to feature food, music, cultural performances and a
citizenship ceremony. (Mia Maldonado, Idaho Capital Sun
<[link removed]>)  

Thanks for reading, 

Dan

 

 

DONATE
<[link removed]>

 

**Follow Us**

 

[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]
[link removed]

National Immigration Forum

10 G Street NE, Suite 500

Washington, DC 20002

www.immigrationforum.org <[link removed]>

 

Unsubscribe from The Forum Daily
<[link removed]>

or opt-out from all Forum emails.
<[link removed]>

 

 
_________________

Sent to [email protected]

Unsubscribe:
[link removed]

National Immigration Forum, 10 G St NE, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20002, United States