The Forum Daily | Tuesday, April 29, 2025https://immigrationforum.org/

**THE FORUM DAILY**
Faith groups across the country are standing with Afghan Christians in the U.S. after many were notified via email that they had one week to leave the country or be deported, reports Charlene Aaron of CBN News [link removed].  

In their op-ed for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [link removed], Rich and Lena Eng discuss their support and concern for Afghan Christians. "We pray that we choose courage and compassion, refusing to abandon our persecuted family in Christ," they write. 

More broadly, while an executive order paused the program for refugee resettlement in the United States, it also called for a report on the program within 90 days. This report is overdue, Stuart Anderson writes in Forbes [link removed]. 

Advocates remain concerned for the program’s future, and resettlement organizations have sued the administration aiming to restart it. While the case proceeds, a federal judge already ordered the administration to resume the admission of refugees approved before the executive order was signed — an order on which the administration does not appear to have acted, Anderson notes. 

"What’s at stake is more than programmatic continuity, but America’s standing as a humanitarian leader," said Timothy Young of Global Refuge.  

Yesterday we posted a paper [link removed] on the breadth, depth and impact of the administration’s immigration actions during its first 100 days. As Jennie noted, "The administration is going beyond what Americans, including Republican voters, wanted on immigration [link removed]." 

Lauren Villagran and Ignacio Calderon of USA Today [link removed] take a good look at some of these actions as well. 

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].  

**NEW EXECUTIVE ORDERS** — President Trump signed two executive orders yesterday that affect immigrants. One, as forecast, directs federal agencies to present a list of "sanctuary cities" [link removed] that do not comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts, report Jenny Jarvie and Andrea Castillo of the Los Angeles Times [link removed]. The second was a directive that requires commercial truck drivers in the United States to be proficient in English, reports Lauren Irwin of The Hill [link removed]. 

**INDUSTRY IMPACTS** — Experts in the agriculture industry warn that the administration’s harsh immigration policies are leading to labor shortages, lower yields and higher costs for consumers, reports Billal Rahman of Newsweek [link removed]. The American Business Immigration Coalition predicts a potential $30 billion to $60 billion decrease in agricultural output if the crackdown continues. Separately, business leaders in Boston are highlighting the negative economic impact of immigration enforcement and creating protocols to protect their employees, report Katie Johnston and Janelle Nanos of the Boston Globe [link removed]. 

**TRUST AT STAKE** — In many states, more local law enforcement are helping federal immigration authorities under the 287(g) program (see our new explainer [link removed]), reports Michelle Watson of CNN [link removed]. In their letter to the editor of the Des Moines Register, [link removed] retired Iowa police chiefs Michael Tupper and Mark Prosser write that Iowa’s help "moves immigration enforcement from jails into local communities — a quick way to erode trust between law enforcement and immigrants, making it more difficult for officers to do their jobs and protect all residents." 

**‘WITH COMPASSION’** — In 2010, Utah faith, law enforcement and business leaders came together to sign the Utah Compact in support of bipartisan immigration policy that ensures safety and human dignity. Keri Wilcox of KSL TV [link removed] revisits the compact and its relevance today. "It tends to be the politicians that divide us on [immigration], and not the way people actually feel," said Gov. Spencer Cox (R). "So, I hope Utah can continue to be an example where we enforce the law, but we do so with compassion and understanding." 

Thanks for reading,  

Dan 

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