Senate Republicans and Democrats are weighing in on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which "would improve the visa program for temporary agricultural workers and help relieve labor shortages that push food prices higher," reports Fiona Harrigan of Reason.  

The measure, spearheaded by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-California) and Dan Newhouse (R-Washington) — and passed in the House twice last year — would establish both a program for foreign agricultural workers and reform the current temporary H-2A agricultural guestworker program, offering labor solutions in the midst of a labor shortage. 

"Increasing legal pathways like H-2A will ease pressure on the southern border by decreasing the number of individuals — particularly single adults — who seek to cross without authorization, all while filling critical labor needs," Danilo Zak, The Forum’s policy and advocacy manager told Harrigan. "Passing this bill would demonstrate what real bipartisan compromise on immigration can look like in 2022: An earned pathway to status for a targeted undocumented population paired with proper and effective enforcement of the system." 

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 me at [email protected].  

BACKLOGS — A recent report from Syracuse University’s Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse predicts that more than 6,000 lawsuits will have been filed against United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. The lawsuits are in response to government inaction on immigration paperwork, extensively delayed visas, and long wait times, per Eric Bazail-Eimil of Reason. Although the agency has been able to hire more agents to help with the bottleneck of growing applications, "aggressive streamlining will still be necessary," noted David Bier, associate director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute. "It can’t just be hiring more people without better systems." Bier also released a new analysis of the State Department’s non‐emergency visa interview process, urging Congress to investigate and act promptly to alleviate these backlogs.  

‘GLASS CEILING’ — Many undocumented students from Mexico who study in the U.S. face challenges to transfer college credits if they return home either voluntarily or due to deportation, reports Max Rivlin-Nadler of The World. After having built an academic and professional career in Los Angeles, Nancy Landa was stopped on her way to work and deported to Mexico in 2009. When she arrived, she learned that a portion of her U.S. college credits weren’t accepted there and turned to working at a customer service call center to make ends meet. "For me, that was a blow," Landa said. She now works in Mexico City as an advocate, helping improve the ability of students to stay and study in Mexico. "You hit this glass ceiling, really, where because you can’t enroll back in school, you can’t advance your career," she said. 

‘ATALAN’ — For Al Jazeera, Ali M. Latifi tells the story of Nasrat Khalid and his startup mobile app called Aseel, which transitioned from selling Afghan-made handicrafts to "become an aid distribution and fundraising platform" for Afghan families in need. Individuals from around the globe can purchase care packages through the app, which are then distributed on-the-ground by a network of 180 local young Afghan volunteers, described as "Atalan," meaning heroes in Pashto. This strategy helped them immensely when an earthquake hit Afghanistan last month. 

Meanwhile, on U.S. welcome:  

• Nasir Ahmad was hired as Bowling Green, Kentucky’s first Afghan community navigator to support Afghan families with housing and resources on driving and learning English. His ultimate goal is to "see over 400 Afghans who came to Bowling Green fully resettled, employed and positioned to fully function." (Mariia Novoselia, Bowling Green Daily News) 
• In partnership with Helping Families Settle, New Haven, Connecticut’s Integrated Refugee & Immigration Services helped organize a baby shower for Afghan evacuees Mosa and Mohammadi Sadat. "It just tells me that this community has got a big heart," said volunteer Tracey Scheer, who organized the event. (Sarah Page Kyrcz, New Haven Register)  
• In St. Louis, the International Institute and its partners provided phones and tablets to 35 Afghan families. "With a community like this that pulls together resources, people can succeed and people will succeed in St. Louis," said President of the International Institute Arrey Obenson. (Laura Barczewski, KSDK) 

DIVERSITY — America’s changing demographics are part of our history and reality, which the "great replacement theory" rejects, writes Joseph Chamie, a demographer, former director of the United Nations Population Division, and author in an op-ed for The Hill. "America’s population is continuing to evolve with increased diversity and the blending of people with differing backgrounds, ethnicities and national origins," Chamie writes. "America should acknowledge the increased diversity as a source of enrichment, innovation and advancement." 

Thanks for reading, 

Becka