Punchbowl News put it best this morning: "Biden also said the United States needs ‘to secure the border and fix the immigration system.’ If you were looking for a pivot to the center, you found it right there."  

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His remarks underscored the need for better border policy solutions, "tout[ing] his vision for a fairer and more efficient immigration enforcement system," reports Mike LaSusa of Law360. He also called for legislative action for Dreamers and farmworkers — immigrants who have been essential throughout the pandemic, and continue to contribute to communities across the U.S. 

"President Biden was clear that Congress needs to work toward immigration reform this year, and the American people agree," I said via press statement last night. With our new polling identifying substantial middle ground, "Republicans and Democrats should work together to advance reforms that establish secure, orderly, humane processes at our borders and protect Dreamers, farmworkers and Temporary Protected Status recipients." 

Picking up on this momentum, today we are joining nearly 30 faith, business, education and advocacy organizations to launch the Alliance for a New Immigration Consensus (ANIC). Reporters, please contact Audrey Garden for details about a press conference at 11 a.m. EST. 

Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of Noorani’s Notes. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected].  

VISA REFORM — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) and Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) yesterday "introduced legislation that would modify the way high-skilled work visas are distributed to foreign employees," reports Hailey Konnath of Law360. The proposed bill would revise both H-1B and L-1 visas for foreign professional workers, tweeted Suzanne Monyak of CQ Now/ Roll Call. "It would replace the H-1B random lottery w[ith] a system prioritizing candidates w[ith] U.S. degrees and higher salaries."  

UKRAINIAN EXODUS — UNHCR estimates that at least 660,000 Ukrainians have fled the country, reports Eric Sylvers of The Wall Street Journal. But if the situation continues to escalate, the agency said that number could rise to 4 million. "I have worked in refugee crises for almost 40 years, and I have rarely seen such an incredibly fast-rising exodus of people — the largest, surely, within Europe, since the Balkan wars," said Filippo Grandi, head of the agency. European Union leaders will meet tomorrow "and may approve a temporary directive ... that allows countries to bypass normal refugee procedures and speed up processing," Sylvers writes. BuzzFeed News’ Christopher Miller is on the ground in Kyiv, where families are desperately trying to flee Russian attacks. As I wrote in The Unpopulist, while the U.S. may be on the cusp of a new Cold War, "our immigration system can be a powerful tool to show the world what we stand for as a nation." (While Biden spoke last night on the need for Americans to protect Ukrainians, more action is needed.) 

JUST 3% — An Association of Wartime Allies report estimates that the U.S. has only evacuated around 3% of Afghans who worked for the U.S. government and applied for Special Immigrant Visas, "leaving behind an estimated 78,000," reports Dan De Luce of NBC News. According to the report, an estimated 81,000 Afghans applied for SIVs during the Taliban takeover in August. But in the final days of U.S. evacuation efforts, the report notes that only 3,000 out of the tens of thousands of evacuees were SIV applicants. "Their lives have been devastated by being left behind with seemingly no verifiable path to safety," the Association said. Kim Staffieri, the group’s co-founder, said other Western governments have been able to safely evacuate their Afghan allies with fewer bureaucratic challenges. "Other countries are doing it. Why can’t we?" 

On the local front: 

• Mission Charleston in South Carolina is working with a multitude of churches to help more than 100 Afghan refugees resettle in the area. "The mission of the church really is to love our neighbor as ourself," said lay director Craig Tuck. "As refugees began to come to greater Charleston, it was an opportunity to bring churches together." (Brodie Hart, WCIV) 
• With the help of the Utah Refugee Services Office, the International Rescue Committee and Catholic Community Services, "just over 900 Afghan refugees have moved to Utah – the largest refugee resettlement in state history." (Kim Bojórquez, Associated Press) 
• Catholic Charities of Oregon’s Refugee Services is welcoming Afghan refugees at airports with the phrase "Khosh-Amadaid," which translates to "happy arrival" in Farsi. In addition to airport runs, they’re assisting with reunification services and assisting families with newborns. (Kristen Hannum, Catholic Sentinel) 

‘HEARTS FULL OF FAITH’ — John C. Wester, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico, recently donated $65,000 to the Border Refugee Assistance Fund to provide humanitarian relief for vulnerable migrants at the border, reports Fallon Fischer of KFOX14/CBS4. The fund is a joint initiative with Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, (a Forum board member) and the Hope Border Institute. "With hearts full of faith, we can meet the challenges of forced migration and transform this moment into a time of greater cooperation across borders and deeper love for our neighbors in need," said Seitz. "At a time when it’s clearer than ever that only global solidarity can resolve our world’s challenges, the work being done on behalf of vulnerable people on the move at the border gives me a reason to hope," said Wester. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of getting to know both bishops. Such kind and generous people.  

Thanks for reading, 

Ali