Four migrants, including an infant girl, drowned in the Rio Grande near the Texas border this past holiday weekend, reports Chantal Da Silva of NBC News.  

The victims died in separate incidents in which the tactical marine unit of Texas Department of Public Safety had to assist the U.S. Border Patrol. 

"Mothers and babies trying to reach safety in the United States should not face death. The U.S. must implement policies that respect human life and dignity while preserving family unity. Deterrence alone has never been the answer, on the contrary, it can lead people to take more dangerous paths," said Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum in a statement.  

This tragic incident coincides with Texas officials' plans to deploy marine floating barriers to discourage unauthorized border crossings, Da Silva notes.  

But the Rio Grande’s waters are not the only risk for migrants. The triple digit heat wave in the southern border region is escalating migrant fatalities and rescues, reports Jonathan Mejia for News 4 San Antonio.  

As noted in our statement, the border should not be a lethal place. Democrats and Republicans should work to make the border more secure without losing sight of the humanity of those seeking protection. 

Welcome to Thursday’s edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Clara Villatoro, the Forum’s strategic communications manager, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Ashling Lee, Karime Puga, Christian Blair and Darika Verdugo. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

FLORIDA’S LAW IMPACT — Florida’s new immigration law is already exacerbating labor shortages in construction and agriculture industries since workers are fleeing the state, reports Deborah Acosta of the Wall Street Journal. Several construction sites in South Florida say a quarter to half of their teams are gone, and farms are also seeing a decrease in workers. "The employee who wants to work on the farm is not available anymore. How are we going to run the farms?," said Hitesh Kotecha, the owner of a produce packaging facility. 

TEMPORARY SITUATION —The low numbers of border crossings may not last long, reports Eileen Sullivan of The New York Times. Some officers consider that there are multiple factors that could affect the crossings at the border beyond the current policies. Some experts also note that the drivers of migration have not changed, and "the risk of violence or death outweighs the risk of not getting into the United States," Sullivan writes. 

CHANGES — Modifications to the U.S. citizenship test have raised concerns for immigrants with limited English skills, writes Trisha Ahmed of the Associated Press. Proposed changes include adding a speaking section based on photos and making the civics section multiple-choice, requiring more knowledge and English literacy. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services plans to trial the changes in 2023 and gather public feedback before implementation. "It’s a test that will determine if you are going to be a citizen. So, there is a lot to lose," said Shai Avny, an Israeli immigrant. 

FOREIGN WORKERS — A bipartisan group of lawmakers has reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act that seeks to boost foreign worker availability in the U.S., reports Cassie Semyon for Spectrum News NY 1. In the past, a similar bill passed twice through the House but failed to secure enough votes in the Senate. Lawmakers expect this new version could become law. The bill seeks to update the H-2A worker program; proponents say it would provide more flexibility for employers and ensure critical protection for workers, notes Semyon. 

Thanks for reading, 

Clara