We just marked the first 100 days of the second Trump Administration this week, and the National Immigration Forum’s policy team has created a resource highlighting some of the key immigration-related actions and developments that have been implemented. "The Administration has widespread support to focus immigration enforcement on threats to public safety. It has gone much further. It also has degraded family unity, respect for human dignity, and protection for longtime community members, which Americans continue to prioritize alongside safety and security," said Jennie Murray, President and CEO of the Forum.  

Tonight, conversations about security and compassion continue in the Midwest, as Forum Fellow and retired Chief Border Patrol Agent Mike DeBruhl is speaking with Christian college students at Malone University in Ohio about the facts and myths around the US/Mexico border. One widespread misconception is that national security must come at the expense of humanitarian protection. At the National Immigration Forum, we know that we can have security and other priorities like compassion, rule of law, and strong economy.  

Americans want a secure border. We also value being a country that welcomes refugees, that keeps our promises to our Afghan allies, and that provides humanitarian protections to those fleeing violence and persecution. One example of these values in action is the indefinitely paused Welcome Corps program, a private sponsorship State Department program that enabled Americans to sponsor refugees since 2023. Welcome Corps had volunteers from every state and more than 7,000 zip codes signed up to sponsor refugees, a commitment that required a lot of time and personal resources from private sponsors. 

Last week, the Forum began a webinar series called "Security &…" to shed light on how we don’t have to choose between security and other American values.  During the first webinar, "Security & Compassion," DeBruhl shared his opinion from almost three decades working for border patrol that "Management of the border requires effectuation of many policies at the same time." We can allow people to pursue asylum claims who face life threatening situations and also value a secure border.  

Polling in February showed that 67% of voters, rising to 69% when it was those who identified as conservative voters, want elected officials working together on immigration solutions that prioritize safety and security while protecting long-term community members and their families. American voters believe we can do both.  

Over the next few weeks, we encourage you to register and join us on two more webinars as demonstrate that both "Security &..." are imperatives for a better immigration system that benefits us all. 

Stay committed and hopeful, 

Christy

Christy Staats 
Assistant Vice President of Field and Constituencies 
National Immigration Forum 

NEWS CLIPS TO NOTE:

WALL STREET JOURNAL: Trump Administration Must Keep Funding Lawyers for Migrant Children, Judge Orders 

REUTERS: SOS: Migrants Held in Texas Fear Notorious El Salvador Prison  

REAL CLEAR POLITICS: Being An Unaccompanied Minor is even harder  

EL PASO TIMES: UTEP Study Finds Undocumented Immigrants Pose Lower Crime Risk Than U.S. Citizens  

FORBES: The Missing Document: Where is the DHS Refugee Report?