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.