For Stars and Stripes, J.P. Lawrence features stories from both U.S. veterans and Afghan evacuees who recall the Afghan evacuation last year so vividly — the trauma, the heroism, and everything in between.  

TIME Magazine shared powerful reflections from Afghan women — a combination of Afghanistan’s security forces, educators, artists, and activists — who are attempting to rebuild their lives across the world and the U.S., despite being "far from the homes they love, and the futures they deserve." 

Today, we are reminded of the severity of the situation as thousands of Afghan evacuees are still waiting for their opportunity to enter the country and seek asylum, reports Miriam Jordan for The New York Times. "We can’t claim mission accomplished," said Jennifer Quigley, senior director of government affairs at Human Rights First. "There are still too many vulnerable people abroad." 

For POLITICO Magazine, Elliot Ackerman speaks to a Marine veteran who recounts the harrowing story of an Afghan evacuation attempt, grateful for saving two Afghan parents, but heartbroken for not being able to help those remaining in Afghanistan.  

Last week, the introduction of the bipartisan Afghan Adjustment Act signified a step in the right direction. (ICYMI:  The Forum's statement on its introduction, the statement from the Evangelical Immigration Table and a personal call to Congress from Council on National Security and Immigration (CNSI) leader and Afghanistan veteran Rick "Ozzie" Nelson’ to provide legal permanent resident status and certainty to our allies and evacuees.) 

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) agreed, adding that the "...legislation starts us down a road of creating a strong vetting program to protect our national security while allowing for Afghans who risked their lives for America to move forward in the process, and while determining what to do with other parolees we brought to the U.S. after our hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan," per Roll Call’s Caroline Simon. 

And as Shawn VanDiver, Navy veteran and leader of the 200-plus member #AfghanEvac Coalition writes: "New arrivals have been resilient in the face of unimaginable struggles, and they are eager to make a positive difference in their new communities. #AfghanEvac would never have been possible without the selfless work of volunteers. The integration of Afghan individuals into our communities will not be either. We need to show up..."  

Today, you can show up by participating in the Forum’s Day of Action:  

• Join our Facebook live on why Congress must act to secure the futures of Afghan evacuees today at 3 p.m. EST. (Sign up here.) 
• Sign or share our action calling for passage of the Afghan Adjustment act.   
• Join the conversation on social media.  

Welcome to Monday’s edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Becka Wall, the Forum’s digital communications VP. We’re trying a slightly different format — let us know what you think! If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

Today’s stories:  

• Afghan refugee chef Hamidullah Noori of Central Virginia will be opening his second restaurant, where he plans to continue serving the Afghan community, reports Rolynn Wilson of WRIC. "It wasn’t easy for us, but it was an opportunity for me to support our families, our people who are in need. Provide job opportunities to them, support them [in] their daily life," Noori said. 
• An estimated 107 unaccompanied migrant children seeking asylum turned themselves in to the Tucson Sector of Border Patrol two weeks ago, reports Perla Shaheen for KGUN. "The stories are all the same, their parents send them north because they want them to survive," said Margo Cowan with Keep Tucson Together. "Whether it’s [due to] starvation or the horrific violence in their countries of origin." 
• With U.S. immigration policies continuously outsourcing migrant care to Mexico, many asylum seekers and refugees awaiting months for refuge have developed "health problems ... left some in dire conditions without care; and compounded the trauma experienced by those fleeing their homes," reports Renuka Rayasam, CBS News/Kaiser Health News. 
• Arizona Democrat Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly, Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) are sponsoring the Border Patrol Enhancement Act, which would address retention and recruiting challenges, boost pay, and create a reserve unit, per Julian Resendiz of Border Report.