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TEXAN CONCERNS — A new Spectrum News/Ipsos poll of 2,021 adults reveals that immigration is Texans’ top priority for their next governor, reports Sabra Ayres for Spectrum News 1. According to the survey, 62 percent of those who believe immigration to be a top concern were Republican. "Where Republicans have strongly coalesced behind immigration as a top concern, Democrats have split their focus on what problems face the state between four main issues: health care and COVID, immigration, gun control and climate change," said Mallory Newall, vice president of public affairs at Ipsos. AFGHAN RESETTLEMENT — Thanks to resettlement efforts, the number of Afghan evacuees temporarily living at the military base in Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, has dropped to 7,800, reports Laura Schulte of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. That’s a decrease from almost 13,000 people housed on the base in September. Even as the base prepares for winter, "We are working with resettlement agencies to ensure Afghans can reach their new communities as soon as possible," a DHS spokesperson said. Meanwhile, local resettlement and welcome efforts continue:
OFFSETTING SHORTAGES — Around the world, "countries are competing for immigrant workers as a means to offset worker shortages and related supply chain issues as inflation threatens to slow or stall the economic recovery from the pandemic," Mississippi syndicated columnist Sid Salter writes for The Oxford Eagle. He suggests that the conversation around immigrants should shift "more toward having a sufficient workforce willing to work" and notes, "In Mississippi, immigrants are more than willing to
gut our chickens, plant our trees, process our catfish, harvest our sweet potatoes, perform the most arduous construction labor, cook our food and wash our dishes in restaurants, and clean our rooms in our hotels. The companies extending jobs to those immigrants profit from their labors."
INTEGRATION EFFORTS — Recently, a handful of states have been using education and art to integrate refugees and immigrants into their communities. Ann Doss Helms and Maria Ramirez Uribe of WFAE report that afterschool program OurBRIDGE for Kids in Charlotte, North Carolina, is expanding to accommodate up to 50 middle school students at a second location and preparing for Afghan students. In Columbus, the Ohio Hispanic Coalition is providing academic and emotional support, in addition to transportation services, for many immigrant students, reports Kenya Ramirez of NBC4. And in Denver, for 5280 Magazine, Patricia Kaowthumrong features Ruby’s Market, an artisan store that supports refugees and immigrant communities by showcasing their local, handmade products. LONG READ — Javier Zamora and Francisco Cantú (the latter is author of the fantastic "The Line Becomes a River") joined up with Granta to write a series of letters recounting their trips along the border to find where Zamora crossed as a young migrant from El Salvador. Cantú’s years as a Border Patrol agent make him a surprising tour guide and friend. It is a powerful essay worthy of your time. Thanks for reading, Ali |
