"Collectively, we represent the backbone of an American economy facing tremendous workforce challenges as a result of the pandemic. We face another crisis if Congress fails to act on an issue that has strong bipartisan support from the American people," reads the Coalition for the American Dream’s letter to Congress, which is running as an ad in three newspapers today.  

The letter follows the recent appeals court ruling against the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Also among the more than 80 signatories are Target, Starbucks, Microsoft, Google, MGM Resorts and the Business Roundtable. 

"Dreamers are an essential part of the fabric of our nation. They make our communities stronger, they make our companies more innovative, and they deserve a right to live in America with dignity," Apple CEO Tim Cook said. "I stand with the bipartisan majority of Americans who agree that granting permanent protections for Dreamers is the right thing to do. It’s time for Congress to act." 

Elsewhere, a group of legal scholars is advocating for students who do not have DACA, reports Miriam Jordan of The New York Times. They, and the students themselves, are encouraging the 10 schools in the University of California system to hire undocumented students. They argue that state entities aren’t subject to federal law barring the hiring of people who lack authorization. 

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].  

FARMWORKERS — To help relieve an increase in food prices, labor shortages and inflation, the Senate must pass the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, writes Republican State Rep. Mike Kohler of Utah, a small-business owner and farmer, in an op-ed for the Deseret News. "The Senate needs to pass a bipartisan bill before the end of the year," he writes. "Utah Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney should engage in these negotiations and support efforts to pass this legislation. Farmers need a legal, stable workforce and Utah’s families need nutritious meals at prices they can afford."  

‘VALUE TO OUR COUNTRY’ — In Iowa, congressional candidates from both parties are highlighting the need for border security and immigration reforms, including workforce solutions, reports Robin Opsahl of the Iowa Capital Dispatch. "I do think both parties have tossed this issue around," U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) said. "But meanwhile we have thousands of people that are waiting to come to this country legally, who want to come to this country legally and that I think can help … with workforce. It’s not the primary reason that we have them here, but they bring value to our country." Meanwhile, Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, says immigration reforms are a key part of solving labor shortages in manufacturing, reports Kurt Nagl of Crain’s Detroit Buisness. "We can’t solve the workforce crisis without also addressing immigration," Timmons said. 

‘THEY FORGOT ABOUT US’ — The U.S.’s processing backlog has increased refugees’ average wait from two to more than five years for asylum seekers, report Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Miriam Jordan of The New York Times. "The African refugees told me, ‘They forgot about us. We have been waiting so many years,’" said Mulugeta Gebresilasie, a case manager at a resettlement agency in Ohio. The Biden administration has taken some steps to rebuild the refugee resettlement system, such as improving digital services and hiring more refugee officers, but more work lies ahead. Early this month, the State Department confirmed that around 25,000 refugees were resettled in the 2021 fiscal year — more than last year, but well short of the 125,000 cap.  

WORK CHALLENGES — Many Venezuelans admitted to the country seeking asylum are taking under-the-table jobs as they lack an immediate work permit, which for many has resulted in scams and work disputes, reports a team at the Miami Herald. Pedro Escalona, who says he was fired arbitrarily, illustrates some of the challenges refugees are facing: "I feel like I’m nobody ... treated like an animal ... horrible." Escalona and three others were recruited in New York City to clean up Florida after Hurricane Ian. But they were fired after a week, allegedly because of bad behavior. The company paid them with checks, but not having a proper ID prevented them from cashing them. For an explainer on why more people are fleeing Venezuela, read Sarah Kinosian and Vivian Sequera’s piece in Reuters. 

ALONG THE BORDER — 

• Fact: On average, cities along the U.S.-Mexico border have lower violent crime rates than similar-size U.S. communities, reports Russell Contreras of Axios. According to 2021 FBI data, Brownsville, McAllen, Laredo, Eagle Pass and El Paso in Texas, Sunland Park in New Mexico, Yuma in Arizona, and San Diego "had a violent crime rate of 333.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to 388.57 for the national average."  
• Fiona Harrigan of Reason reports that recent smuggling of the drug fentanyl at our southern border is primarily done by U.S. citizens — not undocumented immigrants.  
• The federal government says Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) violated federal law by placing shipping containers along the Arizona-Mexico border near Yuma, reports José Ignacio Castañeda Perez of The Arizona Republic. 

Thanks for reading, 

Dan  

P.S. Starting Monday, early 20th-century movie star Anna May Wong will become the first Asian American to be featured on U.S. currency, reports Ashley Ahn of NPR
News. The coins are part of the U.S. Mint’s American Women Quarters Program, which will celebrate five female trailblazers in American history yearly through 2025.