Given the positive impact legal immigration has on the U.S. economy, the government has a responsibility to tackle both border security and immigration reform, writes the Bloomberg Government editorial board.  

The most recent estimates released by the Congressional Budget Office show that higher immigration rates will lead to a 5.2-million-person increase to the U.S. workforce over the next decade. These workers are estimated to add $7 trillion to the economy, along with $1 trillion in taxes.  

Separately, Steve Goldstein of MarketWatch writes on how more academics are considering the increase of immigrant arrivals "the surprise factor that’s keeping the economy running strong." 

Goldstein analyzes a recent study of the Brookings Institute that emphasizes how higher immigration rates mean that "employment growth does not need to slow significantly to get the labor market to a sustainable pace." 

Additionally, the American Business Immigration Coalition and other groups called on the Biden administration to extend work visas to long-term undocumented people and immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens who are already part of the workforce, reports Ariana Figueroa of the Arizona Mirror.  

"We’re here to help everybody out, but we cannot forget the long-term migrants that (have) been contributing to our economy," said Sam Sanchez, a board member of the National Restaurant Association. 

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

ANNUNCIATION HOUSE — A state judge temporarily blocked Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R) efforts to close Annunciation House, a Catholic nonprofit supporting refugees and migrants, reports Robert Moore of El Paso Matters. The ruling by El Paso Judge Francisco Dominguez blocks any further action until the court has reviewed the matter fully. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Paxton have continually criticized Annunciation and other organizations for offering relief to migrants, Moore notes. 

HIGH PRICE RISK — For those hoping to escape harsh conditions in their home countries by coming to the U.S., the journey often comes at a high price, reports Jeff Arnold for NewsNation. The limitations in legal options to migrate can lead to a risky and costly journey amid despair. To illustrate, a Migration Policy Institute report from 2021 found that Central American migrants paid an average of $7,500 to smugglers.  "I was awfully scared, but the thing is (America) could be a better life and so we were going to come no matter despite how scared I was," said Kevier Medero, a Venezuelan immigrant who made the 2,500-mile journey with his family. 

VULNERABLE — Haitian migrant advocacy groups and the Department of Homeland Security are both praising a federal court ruling to allow the continuation of the parole programs that let a limited number of Haitians and migrants from three other countries enter the U.S., reports Sandra Sanchez for Border Report. The recent uptick in violence in Haiti is increasing Haitians vulnerability. Food and water shortages are a direct consequence of the escalated violence, report Evens Sanon and Dánica Coto of the Associated Press. 

‘PUBLIC GOOD’ — ‘Hometown Associations’ across the country allow immigrants to find community and support others back home, writes Professor Susan Appe in an analysis for The Conversation. "The members of hometown associations team up to serve their communities in ways that don’t involve only money," Appe writes. "They voluntarily devote their time, labor and knowledge to help their countries of origin for the public good." 

Thanks for reading,  

Clara