The Welcome Corps program empowers everyday
Americans to help refugees from around the world find safety and
build new lives in the United
States
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Welcome Corps is
celebrating its first anniversary as the flagship program for
private sponsorship of refugees in the
United States. Through the Welcome Corps, everyday Americans
are stepping up to directly support the resettlement of refugees in
communities across the country. In the first year of the program,
more than 15,000 Americans answered the call to serve by applying
to sponsor more than 7,000 refugees. In its second year, the
Welcome Corps will continue to galvanize Americans to participate
in this meaningful service opportunity to provide a warm welcome to
refugees and strengthen the communities where they are resettled in
the process.
"Welcoming refugees is an integral part of our American DNA, and
we have seen this welcoming spirit flourish in the first year of
the Welcome Corps. The Welcome Corps will continue to invite
Americans to do what we do best — be caring and generous neighbors,
guides, and friends to refugee newcomers as they build new lives in
the United States," said
Ambassador Julieta Valls Noyes,
Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population,
Refugees, and Migration.
Representing one of the boldest innovations to U.S. refugee
resettlement in 40 years, the State Department launched the Welcome
Corps to create new ways for Americans to play a key role in
resettling refugees. In groups of five or more adults, Americans
come together in the Welcome Corps to take on essential tasks to
help refugees during their first 90 days in the United States. This includes securing and
preparing initial housing, greeting refugees at the airport,
helping adults find employment, enrolling children in school, and
serving as guides to enable refugees to forge ties in their new
communities.
"The Welcome Corps builds on the incredible willingness of
communities ready to offer a warm welcome to those seeking safety,
refuge, and belonging in the United
States," said Annie
Nolte-Henning, Executive Director of Community Sponsorship
Hub. "Celebrating this moment with sponsors across the country,
from coast-to-coast and in our heartland, is a testament to the
enduring spirit of welcome in America."
Of the more than 15,000 Americans who have applied since the
Welcome Corps launched a year ago, more than 100 sponsor groups
across 32 states have now welcomed refugees from around the world.
Participating sponsors represent Americans from all walks of life,
including veterans, faith groups, businesses, universities,
immigrants, and previously resettled refugees seeking to pay it
forward, as well as Americans getting involved in refugee
resettlement for the first time.
In the program's second year, the Welcome Corps will continue to
enable Americans to be matched with refugees they do not know, or
to apply to sponsor refugees they do know. Americans being matched
with refugees can also indicate whether they are well placed to
welcome specific refugee populations or cases based on their
ability to uniquely offer support in relation to specific spoken
languages, nationalities, and/or family sizes. In December 2023, the Welcome Corps expanded, making
it possible for Americans to apply to sponsor refugees they know
for resettlement in the United
States.
As part of the Welcome Corps, more than 25 organizations have
also stepped forward to serve as private sponsor organizations that
offer hands-on guidance and support to sponsors and refugees
throughout their sponsorship journeys. These organizations
represent a diverse range of local, state, and national
organizations with expertise in refugee resettlement, ranging from
traditional non-profit resettlement agencies as well as grassroots
community organizations.
All refugees arriving in the United
States through the Welcome Corps have been approved by the
U.S. government for resettlement in the
United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
The screening process includes extensive case review and security
screening. Upon arrival, refugees are granted legal status,
employment authorization, and access to key public benefits such as
health insurance, and can eventually apply for U.S.
citizenship.
To learn more about the Welcome Corps, to sign up for updates,
or to find information about becoming a sponsor, please visit
WelcomeCorps.org.
About the Welcome Corps
The Welcome Corps was launched by the U.S. Department of State's
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) in January 2023, and is implemented by a consortium
of seven organizations with extensive expertise in refugee
resettlement, protection of vulnerable populations, and integration
into welcoming communities. Led by the Community Sponsorship Hub,
the consortium includes Church World Service/Refugee Welcome
Collective, HIAS, IRIS – Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services,
International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), International
Rescue Committee (IRC), and Welcome.US.
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-welcome-corps-celebrates-first-year-of-new-service-opportunity-for-americans-to-privately-sponsor-refugees-302039515.html
SOURCE Welcome Corps