Oh, was there a debate last night? 

Start with a fact-check on some of the immigration claims, from Sergio Martínez-Beltrán of NPR. Benjamin Oreskes of the Los Angeles Times has more along these lines. 

Then read our comparative analysis, posted yesterday afternoon, of the candidates’ records and positions on immigration-related policies. And here are some solid facts that counter some of the immigration-related inaccuracies we heard in the debate, including on crime, drug smuggling and national security (on the latter, here’s an additional resource, from the Cato Institute).  

Separately, Fiona Harrigan of Reason analyzes how the debate lacked a coherent argument of the economic and social benefits of immigrants, a vision for a more humane immigration system and "an alternative to the enforcement-dominated status quo." 

As Jennie said beforehand, "A better conversation on the border and immigration is possible. Americans want lasting border and immigration solutions, no matter the political narratives the candidates employ." 

We also know that Americans continue to look to welcome (see examples below). Immigrants are contributing and integrating — even as the debate was under way, three groups of immigrant workers were celebrating having completed English-language training their employers facilitated through our English at Work program. And we still have faith that uniting around solutions remains possible. 

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, Samantha Siedow, Darika Verdugo and Clara Villatoro. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

TPS EXPANSION FOR HAITIANS — This morning Homeland Security Secretary Alejando Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians in the U.S. as of June 3, report Syra Ortiz Blanes and Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald. The redesignation could make more than 300,000 Haitians newly eligible for protections as Haiti continues to experience violence and suffer from effects of natural disasters.  

EXECUTIVE ACTIONS — The asylum restrictions President Biden announced early this month are having the largest impact on Mexicans and other migrants most susceptible to deportation to Mexico, reports Elliot Spagat of the Associated Press. Separately, Andrew Kreighbaum of Bloomberg Law analyzes the "narrow path" that would be available to Dreamers to obtain employment under one of the actions Biden announced last week, and the practicality of the measure. Read more on the waivers this action would involve. 

NEW JOURNEYS — With Europe cracking down on immigration, West African immigrants are undertaking perilous journeys to the U.S. in search of opportunity, reports Katherine Monahan of KQED. Smugglers capitalizing on this shift are selling package trips at high prices. "We don’t like to leave our dear country, Senegal, but there are conditions that pushed us," said Pape, a Senegalese asylum seeker who arrived a few months ago. 

SLOW PROCESS — "Interpreters Wanted," a new documentary by Army veteran Robert Ham, shows the long journey of two Afghan interpreters to get settled in the U.S. and the need for immigration solutions for Afghan allies, reports Blake Stilwell of Military.com. "Every time we have a new administration, it has a new policy and it changes for the Afghan people," Ham said. "The process is not moving fast enough." 

This week in local welcome: 

Thanks for reading, 

Dan 

P.S. Border restrictions are hitting small business owners hard, including in Nogales, Arizona, Maanvi Singh of The Guardian highlights.