The Forum Daily | Tuesday, April 22, 2025https://immigrationforum.org/

**THE FORUM DAILY**The Trump administration’s increased immigration enforcement policies come at an inconvenient time for the U.S. economy, report Augusta Saraiva, Amara Omeokwe and Enda Curran of Bloomberg [link removed].

Immigration is a key part of labor market growth, and the boost from it is in jeopardy just as tariffs also threaten a slowdown, the team notes.

In Maine, farms, wreath factories, restaurants, hotels, fisheries and other key seasonal businesses for the state could be threatened as foreign-born workers remain fearful, reports Joyce Kryszak of The Maine Monitor [link removed].

Immigration policies’ impacts also reach less obvious industries. Ximena Bustillo of NPR [link removed] reports on how the horse-racing sector — which generated $36 billion in 2023 alone — relies almost entirely on foreign-born workers and is imperiled.

The industry depends on work programs such as H-1B and H-2B visas that could change, Bustillo notes. "Generation after generation, [immigrants] have been doing this job," said track worker Diana Pinones, herself a daughter of immigrants. "But without the visas, we cannot continue to do this."

Welcome to Tuesday’s edition of The Forum Daily. I’m Dan Gordon, the Forum’s VP of strategic communications, and the great Forum Daily team also includes Jillian Clark, Soledad Gassó Parker, Broc Murphy, Clara Villatoro and Becka Wall. If you have a story to share from your own community, please send it to me at [email protected] mailto:[email protected].

**UNWAVERING**— "Pope Francis never relented in his appeals to world leaders and ordinary citizens to treat migrants humanely," Justin McLellan of Catholic Standard [link removed] writes. Karissa Waddick and Lauren Villagran have more on this theme in USA Today [link removed], and don’t miss Jennie’s comments yesterday [link removed]. Elsewhere on the faith front:

* Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, highlighted the importance of "justice and mercy" in U.S. immigration policy. (Rose O’Keeffe, The DePaulia [link removed])

* Augustana Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon, urged people of faith to support their immigrant neighbors (Libby Dowsett, KGW 8 [link removed])

* Faith leaders in Rochester, N.Y., prayed for and honored "the humanity of both immigrants and Border Patrol officers," in one leader’s words. (Adriana Loh, Spectrum News 1 [link removed])

**REFUGEE SUPPORT**— The United States must remain a beacon of hope for those escaping religious persecution, Chelsea Sobolik and Matthew Soerens of World Relief write in the National Review [link removed]. The authors reflected on Holy Week and specifically on the hundreds of millions who face threats and persecution for their Christian beliefs. Meanwhile, state and local leaders from around the country also urged a restart of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, reports Shauneen Miranda of News from the States [link removed]. "It represents lives, dreams, resilience, hope ...," said Aisha Koroma, a Refugee Congress delegate for Washington, D.C.

**IN ERROR**— Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) called the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia a "screwup," reports Mandy Taheri of Newsweek [link removed]. In Maryland, Abrego Garcia’s family had to move for their safety after a court document with their address was posted on social media, reports María Luisa Paúl of The Washington Post [link removed].

**COMMUNITY CONCERNS** — The administration’s sudden immigration changes and ensuing court battles leave immigrants with temporary protections in limbo, reports Tim Padgett of WLRN [link removed]. In Los Angeles, more Southeast Asians are being detained and deported at routine check-ins as the administration continues to seek higher deportation numbers, reports Melissa Gomez of the Los Angeles Times [link removed].

Thanks for reading,

Dan

**P.S.** This month we’ve launched a new "Security and ... " campaign to shed light on how we don’t have to choose between security and all of the other values and priorities Americans hold dear. Join us at 2 p.m. EDT Thursday for "Security and Compassion," the first of three webinars on how we can continue to thrive by being both secure and welcoming. Register here [link removed].

[link removed]

[link removed]    [link removed]    [link removed]    [link removed]

[link removed]

Unsubscribe from this email list [link removed] or opt out from all Forum emails [link removed]

National Immigration Forum<br>10 G St NE<br>Suite 500<br>Washington, D.C. 20002<br>United States
www.immigrationforum.org [link removed]