DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday put some meat on the existing bones of a border strategy, Ellen M. Gilmer reports in Bloomberg Government. The strategy, as laid out in a memo from Mayorkas, comprises more personnel and resources, improving processing, upping the consequences for unlawful entries, assisting nongovernmental organizations, disrupting criminal entities and smugglers, and working with other countries to manage migrant flows. 

"Many elements of this plan are already being implemented as we manage a historic number of encounters, including a record number of noncitizens trying to enter the United States multiple times," Mayorkas wrote in the memo. "Others are elements that we are prepared to implement once the Title 42 termination goes into effect." 

Today, Mayorkas begins a string of hearings on the Hill.  

Sources also said the administration would comply should a court order keep Title 42 in place, per Priscilla Alvarez of CNN. But, in the words of one official, "we really disagree with the basic premise." 

Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of The Forum Daily. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. And if you know others who’d like to receive this newsletter, please spread the word. They can subscribe here. 

‘RAÍCES Y ALAS’ — Today, approximately 400 Hispanic Catholic leaders will be on the Hill advocating for immigration reform as part of the "Raíces y Alas" (Roots and Wings) conference convened by the National Catholic Congress of Hispanic Ministry. Representing one of the 35 dioceses across 30 states participating, Antonio Guzman-Diaz, the Archdiocese of Detroit coordinator of Hispanic ministry, told Crux’s John Lavenburg: "We always start from the faith perspective because as Catholics we are called to make sure we raise the voice of those in need and that we share the gifts that we are given by God." (Reporters, note a related press conference.)

‘REMAIN IN MEXICO’ — Suzanne Monyak of Roll Call digs into the multiple layers of arguments the Supreme Court heard Tuesday over the so-called Migrant Protection Protocols, or "Remain in Mexico," program. One of them involves the federal government’s authority over immigration. "I think it’s a bit much for Texas to substitute itself for the [Homeland Security] secretary and say that, ‘You may want to terminate this, but you have to keep it because it will reduce to a slight extent your violations of the law,’" Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said. Justices also noted "that Texas’ interpretation, if adopted, would mean every presidential administration has violated federal immigration laws since the contested provisions was passed more than 25 years ago, including former President Donald Trump." 

NASHVILLE — There’s good reading in the Tennessean opinion pages this week. Columnist David Plazas helps bring to light a bill the state legislature has passed that would allow recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to apply for professional licenses. The bipartisan effort "combined compassion and common sense to address the state’s worker shortage while navigating the incendiary politics around immigration." Meanwhile, Brad Schmitt writes of three brothers who came to the U.S. as refugees from Cuba in 1962. With the help of Catholic Charities, they stayed for more than a year with a couple who "treated us like family." "We were sent together to the most wonderful home and the most loving people you could ever find in your life," Carlos Fernandez said. "The Rowans, that family was like a godsend." 

UKRAINE — According to a Gallup poll released Tuesday, Americans overwhelmingly support the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees, Cassandre Coyer reports in the Miami Herald. The 78% support represents "the highest level of support for refugees ever recorded in the country since 1939," Coyer writes. The support is bipartisan, including 61% of Republicans surveyed. The poll lands as the U.N. refugee agency increased its predicted number of refugees from the conflict to 8.3 million, as Rachel Treisman of NPR reports. That number would represent roughly 20% of Ukraine’s prewar population.  

SEPARATED — In August, Nilab, age 19, had to choose whether to flee Afghanistan alone or stay behind with her family — and risk her life. She chose to leave and now is trying to build a new life in Connecticut. Camila Vallejo of Connecticut Public Radio tells the story of Nilab’s challenges — including her longing for her family, still in danger in Afghanistan. But neighbors have taken her under their wing: "Lina and Mario Rinaldi have become her extended family," Vallejo reports. "For five months, the Italian couple made sure she always found food on the table, had a ride to English class and more." Vallejo notes that an Afghan Adjustment Act would help offer certainty to evacuees such as Nilab — and that other legislation could help people like Nilab's family escape. 

Local welcome continues elsewhere as well: 

Ali