Welcome to Thursday’s edition of The Forum Daily.  I’m Dan Gordon, the Forum’s strategic communications VP. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

MIGRANT TRANSPORT — On Monday, a group of Venezuelan asylum seekers waiting at a hotel in San Antonio was promised a flight to Delaware the next day. But then the flight was canceled without explanation, stranding them, report Sarah Blaskey and Nicholas Nehamas of The Miami Herald. "When you have this kind of malicious interference, it can be destructive to people’s lives that are seeking asylum," said Gavin Rogers, a pastor at Travis Park Church and Corazón Ministries in San Antonio. "It’s making it harder for nonprofits to do their jobs …We have to treat these individuals with dignity to get them to the places they actually need to go." As transports of migrants continue, border communities and advocates are asking Congress for immigration solutions, per Addie Offereins of WORLD Magazine. 

‘OUR LAWS … ARE THE PROBLEM’ — "America needs more immigrants, but we seem determined to shoot ourselves in the foot," Mona Charen begins her column in The xxxxxx. She goes on to explain how asylum seekers from countries such as Venezuela "are simply following the law we enacted … In truth, the vast majority of would-be immigrants have done absolutely nothing wrong. It is our own laws that are the problem." I’d say more, but there’s too much I could quote. Just give this one a read. Then, if you didn’t have time yesterday, read Linda Chavez’s latest, also in The xxxxxx.  

CHRISTIAN RESPONSE — Many Christians are offering a biblical, welcoming message in response to the recent increase in migration, reports Ashley Moss of KFOR. Evangelical Christians gathered in Oklahoma on Tuesday to find common ground. "People who are immigrants are not liabilities or pawns for the political system but are really gifts in and of themselves. [They’re] people and they’re created in God’s image," said Steven Eng of the National Association of Evangelicals. Added Brenda Kirk, our south central regional mobilizer, "The scriptures are very clear that we are responsible for caring for the vulnerable." Eric Black conveys a similar message in his Baptist Standard editorial: "We don’t have to wait for our government to sort out immigration policy to care for immigrants. Instead, we can care for people who come to us, regardless why they came or how they got here. God expects nothing less." 

VETERANS, AFGHAN ALLIES ADVOCATE — Anees Khalil, a green card holder and founder of Human First Coalition, is among a group of Afghans and veterans pushing for the Afghan Adjustment Act via a "fire watch" protest on Capitol Hill — described as camping out for days until said vote is passed, reports Rebecca Kheel for Military.com. The bill would offer permanence to most resettled Afghans who currently have only temporary status. "We are here, and we will keep fighting," Khalil said. Added Matt Zeller, a senior adviser at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, "Thirteen Marines put their lives on the line, literally put themselves in between a suicide bomber at the Abbey Gate and these [Afghans] … They gave the ultimate sacrifice believing these [allies] were coming here forever." 

FULFILLING DREAMS — The Frida Kahlo Theater in Los Angeles has become a space where many Latino immigrants with day jobs are achieving their dreams in the arts, writes Selene Rivera of The Los Angeles Times. The theater offers affordable classes and requires a strong commitment from the students even if they are not pursuing a formal career in the arts. Students include dishwashers, factory workers and business owners. "The theater is my therapy, where I am going to spend beautiful times with friends," said Emma Valdez, a current student. 

Thanks for reading, 

Dan