Asylum seekers and migrants face many risks on their way to the U.S. including the possibility being taken advantage of by smugglers. Pastor Angel Campos of the Monte Vista Baptist Church in Phoenix is one of the community members who help migrant families entering the country. His church provides shelter and food for migrants taking their next steps in the U.S. 

"When you treat them with love, you are already helping them to heal, so when people come here, the first thing we say to them in all languages is, ‘Welcome, welcome, welcome to the United States.’" said Pastor Campos. 

Miles away, but still in Arizona, in Yuma County, the Regional Center for Border Health helps migrants transition into the next leg of their journey once being released by border patrol, reports Nick Ciletti of ABC 15.  

Hundreds of migrants come to the center each week. There they can get food, water and use the WiFi to get in touch with family and friends. "It's easier to see buses or numbers, but we see the human face and we see the suffering a lot of them have been through," said Alex Bejarano, community liaison for the center. 

Welcome to Wednesday’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 Darika Verdugo. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

A LITTLE HELP — In New York City, the first stop for newcomers arriving from border cities is the Roosevelt Hotel. The first hours in this intake center are crucial for asylum seekers and migrants, reports Axel Turcios of Scripps News. Some immigrants who are now settled offer assistance to newcomers. Brandon Gil, a Venezuelan who arrived two years ago, volunteers through the organization that welcomed him. "I feel like part of this family. That's what made me want to help other migrants who came here the same way I did," said Gil. 

ON HOLD — An administrative stay on the Texas law which would allow state law enforcement to arrest migrants is being extended, reports Julián Aguilar for KERA News. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito delivered the order Tuesday morning, just as another lawsuit against the legislation was filed. This extension is held until next week. The lawsuit and the law itself are a part of a continual battle between the state of Texas and the federal government, reports a team at The Washington Post. 

ALLIES — Time is running out for Afghan allies and Congress can offer a solution, write Kim Staffieri and Joseph M. Azam in their op-ed for The Hill. Delving into the Afghan SIV program, the authors emphasize that keeping promise of safety and certainty for Afghans is also a "national security imperative" as it would show the U.S.'s ability to be trusted by its allies. "America’s Afghan allies are running out of time and Congress is running out of excuses," Staffieri and Azam write. 

‘CREATING A PATHWAY’ — It’s time for the United States to recognize the immigrant workers who make our country great, especially those who live in legal uncertainty under Temporary Protection Status (TPS), writes Maria Barahona, a home care provider, in her piece for Newsweek. "Tight labor markets across the service and care economy will only get worse without changes that ensure dignity and fair treatment for immigrant workers," says Barahona. "[L]et us urge President Biden to take bold action on TPS, while also creating a pathway to citizenship for all immigrants who contribute to our economy and society." 

Thanks for reading,  

Clara