About 109,000 refugees were able to find refuge and sponsorship in the U.S. through Uniting For Ukraine. Since then, many Ukrainians and their sponsors have formed special bonds, creating friendships beyond the program’s initial commitments, notes Debusmann Jr. 

For USA TODAY, Maureen Groppe dives deep into the welcome efforts of private sponsorship and the challenges, having been designed as a temporary program.  

Jennie weighed in on U.S. welcome efforts and the need to do more in our latest statement: 

"Congress and the Biden administration must step up efforts to offer permanence to resettled Afghans and Ukrainians. No one should wonder whether they could be forced to return to countries where danger remains imminent, and displacement is likely to continue. More broadly, the administration and Congress must continue to rebuild a robust refugee resettlement that strengthens integration efforts and partnerships locally, regionally and globally."   

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]. 

ASYLUM RULE CONTEXT — For solid context around the Biden administration’s proposed asylum rule, read Aaron Blake’s analysis in The Washington Post. One key line: "As the administration has taken these steps, it has repeatedly indicated that the lack of congressional action on immigration has forced its hand." Meanwhile, Andrea Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports how some migrant families using the CBP One app cannot secure appointments for them altogether, facing the decision to split up or wait for availability. 

IN DEFENSE OF DREAMERS — Yesterday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced a series of immigration-related proposals. And Sen. Rick Scott (R) is pushing back on one that would repeal in-state tuition for Dreamers, Mitch Perry reports in the Florida Phoenix. "[I]t’s a bill that I was proud to sign," Scott said. "I believe in it. I believe that these individuals ought to have the opportunity to live in this country. It’s a bill that I would sign again today." 

CONSTANT LIMBO — Congress must pass the Afghan Adjustment Act to ensure our Afghan allies are permanently protected and not living in uncertainty, Margaret Costantino of the Center for Refugee Services writes in an op-ed for the San Antonio Express-News. "These are appreciative people who want to move forward with their lives after a world-shaking catastrophe," Costantino writes. "But how can they do this if their legal status remains in question?" 

DIVERSE PALATE — The owners of Boston restaurant Comfort Kitchen want diners to think about where their food is coming from — including "to bring awareness to immigrant food," Rupa Shenoy and Laney Ruckstuhl of WBUR report. Biplaw Rai, from Nepal, and Kwasi Kwaa, from Ghana, also are spreading awareness of the importance of immigrant labor to restaurants. 

Thanks for reading, 

Dan