The Biden administration has waived 26 federal laws to build a section of border wall in South Texas, reports Valerie Gonzalez of the Associated Press.

The Department of Homeland Security posted the announcement yesterday in the Federal Registry. The area, in Starr County, is a part of the Border Patrol sector that has seen a high number of crossings this year. The waivers of federal laws are meant to avoid time-consuming reviews, and it's the first time the Biden administration has used this authority, Gonzalez notes.

Customs and Border Protection announced the plan in June and started gathering public comment in August. The announcement has raised concerns among immigration advocates and environmental groups — as well as U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), whose district includes Starr County. "A border wall is a 14th century solution to a 21st century problem. It will not bolster border security in Starr County," Cuellar said.

Welcome to Thursday’s 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, Clara Villatoro and Katie Lutz. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

DIPLOMACY — Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and other top U.S. officials are meeting with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico and his secretary of state during a two-day visit to Mexico City, report Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Eileen Sullivan of The New York Times. Record-breaking migration in the Western Hemisphere, as well as drug trafficking, will be the focus. In a statement, Blinken highlighted the importance of collaboration with Mexico and the countries’ common challenges.

GUEST WORKERS — Florida’s $8 million agriculture industry continues to experience labor shortages, which is pushing many farmers to compete for more seasonal workers, report Arian Campo-Flores and Alicia A. Caldwell of The Wall Street Journal. The state’s new immigration law, which took effect July 1, has some of the harshest penalties in the country for companies that hire undocumented employees. Many workers have left the state, and farms are using the H-2A visa program for seasonal employees, amid complaints about the program’s complex rules and expense.

THE DARIÉN — Nearly 40,000 people crossed the Darién Gap, the jungle between South America and Central America, between January and September, reports Manuel Rueda of NPR. Despite a deal between the U.S., Colombia and Panama to try to stem crossings, they're at an all-time high. Delvis Davila, a welder from Venezuela, said he made the journey after working a number of jobs that could barely cover food or rent. "We have to do our best for our families," said Davila. "I can't spend the rest of my life working for almost nothing."

SURVIVAL MODE — Many of the 120,000 migrants who have found their way to New York City since spring 2022 have found street vending as one of the few ways to make money without legal status, report Nicole Hong and Ana Ley of The New York Times. Street vending has been a go-to for migrants coming into New York for decades. However, they are facing an old, informal and competitive ecosystem.

Thanks for reading, 

Dan  

P.S. For something uplifting, check out this story from Gabriela Lozada of New Hampshire Public Radio about a Manchester grocery store helping immigrants preserve their culinary heritage.