"We are writing to affirm some of the administration’s proposals but also to voice our serious concerns with others, and to underscore our longtime call for bipartisan congressional action to address the crisis at the border," the group wrote. 

The leaders urge Congress "to set aside partisan differences and forge consensus to address the crisis at our border," both to prevent unlawful immigration "and ensure that those who profess a credible fear of persecution are treated humanely and receive due process …" 

Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, put a finer point on it: "As Christians who believe that each human life is fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image and thus worthy of protection and preservation, we insist that our government respect due process for those fleeing persecution." 

In the Baptist Standard, Ken Camp reports on the response of other leaders, including faith leaders.  

Meanwhile, the Dallas Morning News editorial board addresses the tone of the letter Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) gave President Biden upon Biden’s arrival in El Paso. "What Texas needs is a serious meeting about border security at the highest levels without making it a political and press event," the board writes. "Maybe then will our leaders stop playing for the cameras and start working for us." 

Welcome to Wednesday’s edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Dan Gordon, the Forum’s strategic communications VP, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Dynahlee Padilla-Vasquez, Clara Villatoro and Katie Lutz. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected]. 

SUMMIT AGREEMENTS — During the North American Leaders’ Summit on Tuesday, the Biden administration announced additional measures related to migration, Priscilla Alvarez of CNN reports. Leaders "reaffirmed their commitment to work together to achieve safe, orderly, and humane migration in the region," according to a White House fact sheet. Alvarez reports that a new virtual platform is meant to help migrants connect with legal pathways for which they might qualify, though advocates are concerned the platform’s efficacy is unknown. A new resource center in southern Mexico also is in the works. As Jennie and our board member Bishop Mark J. Seitz of the El Paso Diocese said yesterday, we need humane solutions and legal pathways that address labor needs throughout North America. 

BIPARTISAN SENATORS — A bipartisan group of senators who visited the border in Texas and Arizona on Monday sees prospective House legislation on the border as an opportunity to advance broader immigration measures, including protections for Dreamers, reports Ellen M. Gilmer of Bloomberg Law. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) said the group was negotiating an update to immigration laws "that can pass both chambers" and pushing the Biden administration to improve its approach to border management. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) expressed commitment to the bipartisan effort, per Allison Pecorin of ABC News. "We need an immigration system that is safe, orderly, humane and legal," Cornyn said at a press conference in El Paso. "We keep hearing from President Biden and others that we need Congress to step up and provide some answers, and I’m happy that we are." Priscilla Totiyapungprasert of El Paso Matters has the local angle, including solutions local leaders suggested in a roundtable with the senators. 

LEGAL BATTLE — Arguments in a legal battle between the state of Florida and the Biden administration over immigration started on Monday, reports Ana Ceballos of the Tampa Bay Times. The lawsuit was filed by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody against the Biden administration in 2021, seeking to block the enforcement of a policy called "Parole and Alternative to Detention," which allows immigration authorities to release certain undocumented immigrants at or near the border on parole. The state authorities argue that many of these undocumented immigrants end up in Florida. The Department of Justice plans to make the case that the administration has discretion when it comes to immigration detention — like all of its predecessors. 

SECRETARY MAYORKAS — Texas Rep. Pat Fallon (R) has filed a resolution to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Suzanne Monyak of Roll Call reports. The resolution calls out recent increases in migration to the border and attempts to end Trump-era immigration policies. If impeachment proceedings were to move forward, "two-thirds of the Senate would need to vote to convict Mayorkas for him to be removed from office — which is unlikely, because Democrats control the chamber," Monyak notes. 

‘WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE’ — More resources to help refugees resettle, succeed and contribute is always good news. In this case, $5 million in federal funding will go to service organizations in Iowa, reports Mary Stroka for The Center Square. To be eligible, organizations would have to propose projects that align with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement’s goals, including increasing racial equity and supporting underserved communities. "While there were challenges with the speed and volume of the arrival of Afghan refugees, the work we’re doing to ensure Iowa continues its long-standing track record of being a welcoming and supportive state for refugees is exciting," Iowa Chief of Strategic Operations Matt Highland said in a press release from the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. 

Thanks for reading,  

Dan