The Forum Daily | Friday, November 03, 2023
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THE FORUM DAILY

The Biden administration is voicing openness to bringing Democrats and
Republicans together on a deal that would involve changes to asylum law
in exchange for moving the president's broader request for national
security funding, report Myah Ward and Ursula Perano of Politico
.  

The White House is attempting to move a $106 billion supplemental aid
package that includes money for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan and the southern
border.  

The changes to the asylum process being discussed includes a potential
change to the "credible fear" standard to apply for asylum. Currently
asylum seekers need to show a "significant possibility" that they can
establish they have been persecuted or have a fear of persecution if
returned to their home country, and a change could raise that standard.

The details will be thorny, to be sure. Americans want

Democrats and Republicans to work together on solutions that address
border challenges as well as paths forward for Dreamers and farmworkers
that will help their employers and communities. Asylum changes that
remain true to American values of being a refuge for the persecuted can
be part of the conversation.  

Separately, Priscilla Alvarez of CNN

analyzes the Biden administration's strategies to stem the flow of
Venezuelan migrants coming into the United States.  

After internal debate, the administration decided to ease the Trump
administration's economic sanctions together with a push for Venezuela
to hold free and fair elections. The idea is that economic improvements
could reduce the number of migrants leaving Venezuela for better
opportunities.  

Welcome to Friday'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] .  

**INCREASE** - The number of Afghans seeking asylum in the U.S. has
risen to 19,000 over the past two years, reports Akmal Dawi for Voice of
America News
.
Although temporary protections cover many Afghan evacuees, asylum would
offer permanence in the absence of an Afghan Adjustment Act
,
which would offer a streamlined process and has strong support
. 

 This week in local welcome: 

* In Oklahoma City, a food pantry provides Halal food to Afghan refugees
to make them feel welcome. (Hannah France, KGOU
) 

* Displaced Afghans in Kansas City are still finding space within a new
community, even with an uncertain future. (Mili Mansaray, The Kansas
City Beacon
) 

* The Oregon Department of Human Services' Refugee Program announced
it has $3.6 million in grants for health care, legal assistance, housing
and youth mentoring for Afghans. (Ben Botkin, Oregon Capital Chronicle
)  

 

**COLONIAS** - Three members of Congress from Texas have proposed a
bill to create a federal office that would oversee assistance for
migrant farmworkers and often underserved communities near the border
called colonias, reports Sandra Sanchez of Border Report
.
The bill would create a new office within the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to coordinate assistance to colonias within 150 miles of the
border.  

**BORDER TRENDS** - In an interview with Muzaffar Chishti, a senior
fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, Stella M. Chávez of KERA News

takes a deeper look at the changing demographics of migrants crossing
the U.S -Mexico border. Chishti discusses what he calls "the busing
chapter of immigration history" and how federal coordination could offer
an alternative. 

**DIVERSITY** - Aurora, Colorado, is proud of a large immigrant
population, reports Bennito L. Kelty of Westword
.
The city has a good system to help newcomers settle: "We want to
provide tools, the resources and the information so refugees and
immigrants can understand how to navigate the city," said Ricardo
Gambetta of the Aurora Office of International and Immigrant Affairs
[and a Forum alumnus]. 

Thanks for reading,  

Dan   

 

**P.S.** Speaking of Republicans and Democrats working together,
yesterday Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) announced

that he is working with Democratic colleagues on immigration-related
bills that would help American employers, including in health care. 

 

** **

 

 

 

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