In his ruling, Judge Andrew S. Hanen made it clear that the federal government is not required to take any action against current DACA recipients, who number nearly 600,000. Along with protection from deportation, DACA provides people who were brought into the U.S. as children with work permits, and they are an essential part of the American workforce. 

Those already in the program may continue to renew their status. But no new applications may be processed — and the ruling brings us a step closer to a potential end of DACA altogether. 

Since its creation in 2012, the program always has been temporary. And Americans continue to support Republicans and Democrats working together on a permanent solution not just for DACA recipients but also for other young people brought to the U.S. as children, together with border and farm workforce solutions.  

"With such broad support, Congress should come to the table now," said Jennie Murray, our President and CEO. Leaders on the Council on National Security and Immigration also have weighed in, and the Evangelical Immigration Table already has sent a letter to members of Congress to urge action. 

"With the fate of DACA recipients and the millions of Americans who rely on them more in jeopardy than ever, Congress has an opportunity — and a responsibility — to act," wrote the Alliance for a New Immigration Consensus, as Darryl Coote reports for United Press International. "We need permanent legislation now."  

Welcome to the Thursday edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Dan Gordon, the Forum’s strategic communications VP, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Jillian Clark, Ashling Lee, Clara Villatoro and Katie Lutz. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

HOUSING CHILDREN — With an increase in unaccompanied children arriving at the southern border, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reopened a facility where poor living conditions were reported previously, reports Camilo Montoya-Galvez  CBS News. The facility, in Pecos, Texas, was reopened after other shelters began facing bed shortages. 

'FOREVER LABOR SHORTAGE’? — Recent projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a bleak future for employers trying to fill open positions, reports Andy Medici of The Business Journals. Low birth rates and an aging population contribute to the labor shortages in the country (as we’ve noted). The solution economist Anirban Basu suggests is … wait for it … "stepped-up legal immigration into the country to expand more rapidly the size of the labor force." 

THE WAIT — Almost a dozen immigrant parents shared their stories of separation from their children as they continue to build new lives for their families in the United States, reports Jasmine Aguilera for El Tímpano (also available in Spanish). Many are putting their hopes in federal government programs to reunite them with their loved ones. In the meantime, their lives revolve around scheduling phone calls and video chats. 

SEPARATIONS — A father has reunited with his family in Los Angeles 17 days after being separated and detained at the Texas-Mexico border, report Penelope Lopez, Cydney Tucker and Allie Weintraub for ABC News. Although mandated family separation has been discontinued, instances do occur. "This report is troubling. We can both enforce our laws and treat human beings with dignity," a DHS spokesperson said.  

Thanks for reading, 

Dan  

P.S. In The Guardian, Paulina Velasco writes about Flavors from Afar, an LA restaurant that has been helping refugees and immigrants resettle using food, hard work and community.