A district court judge in El Paso blocked the efforts of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) to stop the operation of Annunciation House, a Catholic migrant shelter network, report Robert Moore and Cindy Ramirez of El Paso Matters.
Early this year, Paxton made accusations against the nonprofit that they were assisting in human trafficking. The Attorney General’s office then served a request for operational records from Annunciation House, attempting to shut down the operation when they did not comply.
In two separate rulings, Judge Francisco Dominguez blocked Paxton’s demands for records and rejected the state’s efforts to close the nonprofit due to not providing the documentation. The state is expected to appeal this ruling, Moore and Ramirez note.
"We are prepared to continue to do the work of Annunciation House, we don’t plan to stop. There’s nothing defiant about that … to meet the needs of very vulnerable people," said Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House.
Separately, while some migrants continue to make the dangerous journey to the U.S.- Mexico border, many are waiting in the Brazilian Amazon to see what President Biden’s most recent actions mean for them before completing their trek, reports Mauricio Savarese of the Associated Press. "I have to stay here until it is safer to go," said Venezuelan migrant Johany Rodríguez.
A quick note — We hope you have a great Fourth of July! We’ll be back in your inbox on Tuesday.
Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Clara Villatoro, the Forum’s strategic communications assistant VP, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Jillian Clark, Samantha Siedow, Dan Gordon and Darika Verdugo. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected].
GROWTH — The immigration increase that the United States is experiencing can account for job and general economic growth, writes a team from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) the U.S. labor force will be 5.2 million people larger by 2033, in part because of immigration. Separately, JPMorgan’s strategy chief, David Kelly, warned in a recent interview that some of the immigration proposals by former president Donald Trump, such as massive deportation, could lead to stagflation if implemented, reports Filip De Mott of Business Insider.
LIMITED— In Massachusetts, a new shelter limit policy put in place by Gov. Maura Healey (D) shows the struggle states are facing as they deal with limited resources to assist migrants, reports Samantha J. Gross of The Boston Globe. With the system at capacity, Healey is getting the message across that there is no more room. Consulted by Gross, Jennie highlighted the need for action from Congress: "It is quite a shame, we
can’t solve the issue at the state level if we don’t have money from Congress."
SHIFT — More women than ever are dying at the U.S.-Mexico border, reports Jessica Kutz of the nonprofit newsroom The 19th. While, historically, men are the ones putting themselves at risk by crossing, recent demographic changes means that more women than ever are making the perilous journey. Advocates claim that due to recent years' policies changes more migrants are making their way to the border through dangerous remote desert areas.
ASSISTING — At 60 years old, Fiona Burke left her home in Ireland and boarded a plane to Texas, hoping to help migrants crossing the U.S. - Mexico border, reports Elizabeth Bennett of The Guardian. Now, four years later, she continues to make the trip to assist migrants for four months out of each year. "[Migrants] are battling against the odds but are often the loveliest people you will
ever meet," said Burke.
P.S. In Texas, Migrants use baseball to create new connections and feel at home. CBS News’ Ken Molestina has the story.
