The Forum Daily | Friday, March 29, 2024
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**THE FORUM DAILY** 

The limited space at immigration holding centers is resulting in
makeshift holding areas outdoors for migrants, which poses public health
concerns especially for migrant children. As early as today, a Federal
District Judge in California could rule if the government is responsible
for sheltering and feeding migrant children while they wait, reports
Emily Baumgaertner of The New York Times
. 

Multiple complaints have been filed by advocacy groups, all in reference
to the Flores settlement, a 1997 federal court agreement which
guaranteed a certain standard of treatment for children detained by the
government in immigration cases. 

The Department of Justice has argued that while waiting, these children
are not yet in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.  

"There is no logic if the most powerful country in the history of
humanity, the country with the highest concentration of wealth, is not
able to provide for basic needs of children," said Adriana Jasso of
American Friends Service Committee.

Separately, in certain areas of the border, like Tucson, the number of
families and children crossing continues to grow, reports Danyelle
Khmara of AZMP News
. 

However, the most recent

Customs and Border Protection data, encounters reported at the Southwest
border area (California, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona) are still mainly
single adults.  

Welcome to Friday'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]
. 

**TEMPORARY EFFECT** - The Mexican government's crackdown on
migrants moving north has particularly impacted Venezuelans, report
Christopher Sherman, Elliot Spagat and Valerie Gonzalez of the
Associated Press
.
Mexico's efforts include sending migrants back near Guatemala and
returning some of them home on special flights. In the last two months
the arrest of Venezuelans at the border has declined. But migrants face
many dangers in Mexico from cartels to gang activities, including some
abuse from authorities, Mexico's strategy could have a temporary
effect, the AP Team notes.  

**NEW AMERICANS** - In California, more than 100 children from 20
countries became naturalized citizens of the United States this week,
report Helen Jeong and Amber Frias of NBC Los Angeles
.
"It means everything to actually be a citizen and look for more
opportunities," said Mexican-born Miguel Maldonado. Meanwhile, in
Houston, over 1,300 people became American citizens in a meaningful
ceremony that for many fades away their fear of deportation, reports
Jhair Romero of The Houston Chronicle
.  

**REUNITED** - A refugee family in North Texas is hoping to reunite
through the Welcome Corps program, reports Caroline Vandergriff for CBS
News Texas
.
Separated from their family by war in South Sudan, Jacob Mabil and his
wife Akuot Leek now hope to reunite with their two nieces. The program
allows private U.S. citizens to sponsor refugees. The couple is teaming
up with other family and friends to sponsor their nieces. "We want a
future for them," said Leek. 

This week in local welcome: 

* Fereshte, a 28-year-old wife and mother who was forced to leave
Afghanistan rebuilds a life for her family in Missouri. (Meghan
McKinney, KSMU
) 

* In Ozark, volunteers in one of Missouri's largest cities welcomes
refugees. (Gregory Holman, KSMU
) 

* Afghan artist, Matin Malikzada continues to take pride in his work now
that he has found community in Connecticut. (Leslie Brody, The New York
Times
) 

**BIBLICAL** - In a faith-perspective reflection, Jeff Schultz dives
into the scripture in his op-ed for USA Today
 
and highlights what he sees as most relevant to the immigration
conversation today. Referencing former President Trump's newest
business venture, selling a "God Bless the USA Bible," Schultz writes:
"I sincerely hope the former president is not just endorsing the Bible
but also reading it - especially as it relates to how God calls us to
treat immigrants, because there are important messages there for all of
us."   

Thanks for reading,  

Clara 

**P.S.** A story we didn't catch until it moved on the Associated
Press wire: New York City's largest Girl Scout troop has been
welcoming migrant children, reports Sara Herschander of The Chronicle of
Philanthropy
. 

 

 

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