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The use of tractor trailers to transport migrants from Mexico and Central America to the U.S. have been central to how human smugglers operate along both sides of the border, such as in the recent migrant tragedy in Texas, report Santiago Pérez and José de Córdoba, with photos by Paul Ratje for The Wall Street Journal. Because of this, smugglers have been able to boost their profits and avoid required inspections of passenger buses, Pérez and Córdoba note. In 2021 alone, there were an estimated seven million-plus crossings by trucks of the U.S.-Mexico border, per U.S. Transportation Department data. "[Smugglers] leave trucks abandoned in inhospitable places, without water or food," said Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina. "They leave them locked up in an inhumane and terrible way, and they die." The tragedy in Texas is a consequence of the lack of legal pathways to enter the U.S., writes The Washington Post columnist Ishaan Tharoor. And despite the growing visa backlog, record low refugee resettlement numbers, and the use of Title 42, Republicans are still wrongfully touting an ‘open borders’ narrative. As Tharoor notes, "The border is hardly open. But it’s definitely deadly." Had humane immigration policies been in place, such deaths could have been entirely preventable, our policy expert Danilo Zak told a team at San Antonio Express-News. In light of the tragedy, its Editorial Board asks us to consider: "Just what would it take to climb into the back of a tractor-trailer and risk such a perilous journey for a better life? Just what circumstances would lead a person to flee their home country? And just what hopes and dreams would that person be seeking?" Passing meaningful immigration reform is the only real solution, they later note. The Forum, along with faith, national security, and law enforcement leaders, agree: Congress must act quickly on policy solutions that bring compassion, security, and order to our border. Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Becka Wall, the Forum’s digital communications VP. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to e at [email protected]. GOV. ABBOTT’S APPROACH — Immigration continues to be a central issue for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) re-election campaign, reports Victoria Kim of The New York Times. So far, Gov. Abbott’s hardline immigration policies included sending state police and the National Guard to the southern border and launching the criticized Operation Lone Star operation, which charged migrants for trespassing. "His Democratic challenger, Beto O’Rourke, has criticized Mr. Abbott for staging ‘stunts’ and failing to achieve any meaningful progress in his years as governor in resolving the situation at the border," notes Kim. We can do much better than this, Gov. Abbott. ‘MORAL GRAVITY’ — A decade later, "Americans are faced with a moral gravity to make things right" for DACA recipients and other dreamers who have been waiting to secure their futures for far too long, writes Alan Cross, a California Baptist Pastor and mobilizer for The Forum, in an op-ed for the Christian Post. "But fairness and justice for this unique population can only be permanently secured by Congress … In my home state, I find hope in U.S. Senator Alex Padilla’s (D-CA) promotion of the ‘Citizenship for Essential Workers Act’ and in Congressman David Valadeo’s (R-CA-21) political courage to vote for the 2021 American Dream and Promise Act." REFORMS IN FLORIDA — "Immigration reform would open the doors of opportunities for many professionals from countries in Latin America and beyond to fill critical positions in Florida," writes Janeth Castrejon, member of the Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, for The News-Press. To take reforms one step further, the state should also streamline the process to take English as a Second Language classes for immigrants already in the U.S., which would help them advance in their careers and benefits companies. "I encourage Senators Rubio and Scott to find common ground with their colleagues and enact immigration reforms and policies that help meet the needs of businesses and communities in Florida." 3-YEAR-OLD LINA — Riaz and Zarmeena Sardar Khil are facing an everyday nightmare, coping with the fact that their child has gone missing, reports Bekah McNeel of the Texas Monthly. The Khils come from a small town in Afghanistan and resettled in San Antonio, Texas, in 2019. But just six months ago, their 3-year-old daughter Lina went missing from their apartment complex courtyard. To help with the search, faith leaders, law enforcement, the Afghan community, and an advocacy nonprofit, have come together, doing their best to combat the Islamophobia that ensued — even organizing a prayer vigil to unite San Antonians behind the family. Riaz’s friend, Lawang Manga, who sits on the board of the Afghan community council in San Antonio, "said his fellow Muslims were happy to join with Jews and Christians to pray for Lina’s safe return." Adding: "We have the same pain...Our community was thinking, ‘We are not alone.’" More stories of communities welcoming Afghans and other refugees:
Becka
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