The Forum Daily | Friday, December 6, 2024https://immigrationforum.org/

**THE FORUM DAILY**

The Mexican government and President-elect Donald Trump’s team are discussing a deal that could block the deportation of migrants from third countries to Mexico, reports Kylie Madry and Ted Hesson of Reuters [link removed].  

Separately, the governments of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands announced that they are against efforts by the incoming Trump administration to drop deportees from other countries within their borders, reports Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald [link removed].  

Both countries released statements after earlier reports of the Trump transition team seeking agreements from them. The office of Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis said: "The Bahamas simply does not have the resources to accommodate such a request." 

Meanwhile, the president-elect tapped two longtime allies to help complete his immigration plans, reports Hamed Aleaziz of The New York Times [link removed].  

Rodney Scott, a former border official is being asked to run Customs and Border Protection and Caleb Vitello, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official is asked to run ICE in an acting capacity.  

Welcome to Friday’s edition of The Forum Daily. We want to give a shout out to our great intern Camilla Luong. Today is her last day. Thank you for all your hard work this fall, Cam! We’ll miss you! I’m Clara Villatoro, the Forum’s Strategic Communications Assistant VP, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Jillian Clark, Soledad Gassó Parker, Dan Gordon, Camilla Luong, and Becka Wall. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected] mailto:[email protected].  

**DETENTION** — President Biden is taking steps towards immigration detention expansion, reports José Olivares of The Guardian [link removed]. Biden has previously made statements opposing private jails because of their reputation for inhumane conditions, Olivares notes. However, the administration is now extending contracts and expanding detention capacity. "It’s really just a step backwards ... it’s really discouraging to see that," said Esmeralda Santos of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice. 

**PUBLIC TRUST** — Los Angeles Police Department's (LAPD) new Chief Jim McDonnell is promising to protect immigrants, reports Jaimie Ding of the Associated Press [link removed]. Chief McDonnel wants to offer reassurance to local communities, though he is aware of potential consequences. He pointed out that part of the department’s mission is "to build public trust ... to be able to have hope that people will come forward if they were a victim of crime, a witness to a crime." 

**COMPASSION** — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supports pragmatism and compassion for immigrants, reports Emma Ayers of The Washington Times [link removed].. "Mormons are balancing their respect for the law with compassion for immigrant communities," said Stephen Cranney, a data researcher and member of the Church. Separately, communities in Michigan like the congregation of Cherry Hill Presbyterian Church in Dearborn are welcoming refugees, reports Amy Kuras of Second Wave Michigan [link removed]. 

**TASTE OF HOME** — Ritiek Rafi and Ahmad Bahaduri shares a "taste of our home" at Kabul Corner, the only Afghan restaurant in the Tucson, Arizona, reports Justo Robles of The Guardian [link removed]. After the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, many refugees relocated to the United States. Through political uncertainty, local resettlement agencies and businesses like Kabul Corner help with integration and bring some familiarity to refugees. "[W]e also want to let our people know that this is a safe place, somewhere they won’t leave hungry, a bit of happiness," said Rafi. 

This week in local welcome: 

* Narges, an Afghan refugee, finds a new home and fulfill her dreams in Columbus, Ohio. (Carsten Torgeson, Matter News [link removed]) 

* A congregation in Helena, Montana, hosted a meal for Afghan refugees. (Allie Kaiser, KXLH [link removed]) 

* In Mojave, California, Afghan families continue to thrive. (Steve Virgen, ABC 23 [link removed]) 

Thanks for reading,  

Clara 

 

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