Sean Halpin, a former Army intelligence officer, has been tracking and supporting 176 Afghan linguists and family members waiting for resettlement. He has provided his own money to many of them for food and other needs — to the tune of about $400,000 over the years, he estimates. 

Nonprofit Operation Recovery launched the website Impacts of War to help U.S. leaders understand veterans’ personal efforts and the need for more government action to support Afghan allies. Veterans can report their contributions of time and money to Afghan rescue and resettlement, as well as share stories of atrocities that they witnessed in Afghanistan. 

In The Washington Times, Stephen Dinan shares the challenges, triumphs and welcome resettled Afghans in the D.C. area have experienced. 

And in an op-ed for The Hill, Jennie again calls on Democrats and Republicans to offer solutions: "Legislative action from Congress is the only real path to permanent change for Afghan evacuees in the U.S. ... Yet we see almost no movement on such legislation, forcing those who have already been through so much to wait out their limbo." 

Welcome to Thursday’s edition of The Forum Daily. As a reminder we will be off tomorrow and Monday, so expect us back in your inbox Wednesday morning! I’m Dan Gordon, the Forum’s strategic communications VP, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Jillian Clark, Joanna Taylor, Ally Villarreal and Clara Villatoro. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

EMPOWERING EMPLOYEES — Through a partnership with the Forum’s English at Work program, San Antonio-based produce company Fresh Texas is helping resettled Afghan employees thrive in their new home by providing free English classes at the worksite. Improved English skills not only are critical for new arrivals’ career opportunities, but also improve business outcomes and customer satisfaction across industries. 

In local welcome: 

FLORIDA — Advocates in Florida say new state laws add burdens to an immigrant community still struggling with a severe law passed last year, reports Nancy Guan of WUSF. One bill, effective July 1, bans counties and municipalities from accepting IDs other states issue to undocumented immigrants, making it harder for undocumented individuals to live and support their families, Guan notes. 

OPERATION LONE STAR — At least 17 Texas National Guard members have died while deployed as part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) Operation Lone Star, reports Rose L. Thayer of Stars and Stripes. Sgt. Bishop Evans drowned in the Rio Grande in 2022 while attempting to rescue migrants. Other causes include a medical emergency, an accidental shooting, a traffic accident, and suicide. 

PROGRAM REVAMP — The Biden administration may restart the parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans "as soon as this week," per Julia Ainsley and Laura Strickler of NBC News. Officials see the program as an important deterrent to unauthorized border crossings — and as Manuela Nivia writes in an op-ed for The Hill, it’s a critical pathway for migrants fleeing intensifying violence and persecution at home. 

Thanks for reading, 

Dan