The report also shows a significant decrease in the number of Venezuelans able to seek asylum after the Department of Homeland Security announced it would implement Title 42 for this population in October, reports Sandra Sanchez of Border Report. 

In a speech on Thursday before the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas underscored the need to work together to find viable solutions to manage the border, Sanchez notes. "The threats and challenges we face are evolving, increasingly diverse, and dynamic," Mayorkas said. "Yet, we can meet this moment if, and only if, we work together."  

The 270 bipartisan mayors who attended the meeting called on President Biden and Congress to help them address the flow of migrants, including "funds to take humane care of those who arrive," reports Jennifer A. Kingson of Axios. 

"What we truly need beyond the dollars from the federal government is comprehensive immigration reform," San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria (D) said before the meeting. "What we have is an antiquated system, and Congress surely sees that." 

Meanwhile, in a piece for The Dallas Morning News, civil rights attorney Louis A. Bedford IV urges compassion and empathy for people seeking a better life here. "Where else should they go if not to the nation built by and for immigrants?" he asks. 

Welcome to Friday’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]. 

‘INTERESTED IN SOLUTIONS’ — A bipartisan group of senators is trying to reach an agreement on border security and immigration policy, report Eliza Collins and Michelle Hackman of The Wall Street Journal. It would include a path to citizenship for Dreamers and changes to the asylum system, they report. The group is hopeful following last year’s bipartisan work to pass a gun-control law. Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Arizona) are leading the efforts. Matthew Choi of The Texas Tribune writes about Cornyn’s optimism specifically. "There’s no alternative but to step up and try to deal with this the best we can," Cornyn said. "This group of senators has a history of dealing with tough political challenges. We’re all interested in solutions. And I think this current crisis cries out for a solution." 

WELCOME CORPS — More details are emerging about the newly launched Welcome Corps, which will allow everyday citizens to help resettle and financially support refugees in the U.S. The program "marks the most significant reorientation of the U.S. refugee program since its inception more than four decades ago," aiming to expand capacity and accelerate the process of new arrivals, reports Miriam Jordan of The New York Times. The expansion of private sponsorship programs will complement the nine federally funded nonprofits who exclusively have managed resettlement services in the past. Through the Welcome Corps, the State Department hopes to mobilize at least 10,000 Americans to sponsor at least 5,000 refugees within the first year, and then scale the program as part of the robust refugee program in the future. The program’s first refugees are slated to arrive in April. 

In local welcome: 

• Oasis International, a St. Louis nonprofit, is expanding its services to provide Afghan and Syrian refugee women with free group therapy to cope with trauma, PTSD and other aspects of mental health. (Andrea Y. Henderson, St. Louis Public Radio) 
• Thanks to Stephanie Coca, English Language Learner Coordinator at Will Rogers Elementary School in Stillwater, Oklahoma, eight Afghan refugee families have made strides rebuilding their lives and learning English. (Jessica Marshall, Stillwater News Press) 

IN-STATE TUITION — Allowing state residents to pay in-state tuition at colleges and universities just makes sense, Jeff Jacoby writes in his Boston Globe column. In Massachusetts, legislators are once again considering a bill that would grant in-state tuition to students who are undocumented. "No one is barred by their undocumented immigrant status from driving on Massachusetts highways, swimming at Massachusetts beaches, or doing research in Massachusetts libraries. Neither should they be barred from paying the tuition rate charged to other state residents," Jacoby writes. "... Why wouldn’t Massachusetts want its young residents to be as successful and educated as possible?" About two dozen states, with leadership that spans the political spectrum, already have such policies in place, he notes.  

REFUGEE MINORS — Some Floridians have had the opportunity to become foster parents to unaccompanied migrant teens through a Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami program, reports Rocío Granados of Florida Catholic Media. Through the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program, Catholic Charities offers training and additional support for foster parents. "The program is always focused on protecting the children and we are always working with the parents, not only during the trainings, but in any area where they think they need to learn more or need more help," said Jackie Carrion, director of Community Services for Catholic Charities of the archdiocese. Being foster parents fits well with "our beliefs of loving your neighbor as yourself, loving people around the world who don’t look like you, who don’t believe like you, who aren’t from the same country," said Caroline Hazelton of Jacksonville.  

Thanks for reading, 

Dan 

P.S. For a fun, heartwarming weekend read, check out "How Love and a Presidential Speech" drew our policy expert Arturo to the United States. We’re fond of this post — not only (but not least) because we’re grateful to call its author a friend and colleague.