The United States is launching a new program that will allow groups of people and organizations in the United States to “sponsor” refugees seeking refuge in the country, a move that has been welcomed by rights groups as a positive step.
On Thursday, the US State Department announced the establishment of the “Welcome Corps”, which will allow the general public to help defray the resettlement costs of refugees arriving through the US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP ).
Groups of at least five people must raise a minimum of $2,275 per sponsored refugee. Sponsoring groups, open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, will also need to pass background checks and create a support plan, according to a related government website.
“The Welcome Corps is the boldest innovation in refugee resettlement in four decades,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
“It is designed to strengthen and expand the capacity of USRAP by harnessing the energy and talents of Americans of all backgrounds willing to serve as private sponsors.”
The United States launches the Welcome Corps, the boldest innovation in refugee resettlement in four decades. This initiative allows Americans to directly support refugees and show the best of American hospitality and generosity. #JoinTheWelcomeCorps pic.twitter.com/MFp3lO1fQN
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) January 19, 2023
The announcement was welcomed by refugee advocacy groups, who called on US President Joe Biden’s government to do more to help deal with the world’s record number of refugees.
Rights groups have clashed with the Biden administration over several controversial immigration policies, including restrictions aimed at stemming the arrival of migrants and refugees at the US southern border with Mexico .
Welcome Corps will initially only apply to refugees who have already been approved to enter the United States, the State Department said in a backgrounder. At a later stage, private sponsors can identify refugees to support.
Blinken said Thursday the goal is to get at least 10,000 Americans to come forward as private sponsors of at least 5,000 refugees in the first year of the program, which is similar to a model used in Canada.
The program is “a concrete step not only toward reconstruction, but also toward innovation in U.S. refugee resettlement to increase capacity and impact,” said Elizabeth Foydel, director of the private sponsorship program at the International Refugee Assistance Project, in a press release.
“We look forward to working with the Biden administration to establish a permanent private sponsorship program that deepens ties between new neighbors, strengthens communities, and allows more refugees to find a safe place to call home.” , Foydel said.
HIAS, a leading refugee resettlement group in the United States, also hailed the launch of Welcome Corps as providing “a new, permanent way for Americans to welcome #refugees from crises around the world.”
Refugee cap
Upon taking office in early 2021, Biden was called upon to lift the refugee admissions cap after his predecessor, Donald Trump, set it at an all-time low as part of his administration’s efforts to restrict immigration. To see also : Analysis: US leaves door open for Iranian nuclear diplomacy.
Biden set a cap of 125,000 refugee admissions to the United States for this fiscal year, which began Oct. 1, 2022, but only 6,750 refugees arrived from October through December, according to program data.
In Thursday’s fact sheet, the State Department said the new refugee resettlement program fulfilled a commitment from Biden, who had criticized Trump’s stance on immigration and promised to reverse some of his policies. the hardest.
But Biden has taken a tougher line in recent months as right-wing lawmakers blame him for a growing number of migrants and refugees seeking to enter the United States at the border with Mexico.
Immigrant rights groups reacted with outrage when the Biden administration recently moved to expand one of the Trump administration’s most controversial immigration policies, Title 42. US authorities have used this measure to return most asylum seekers at the border on the grounds of the fight against COVID-19. .
The Biden administration initially tried to end the policy but was blocked by the courts as Republican-led states sued to keep it in place.
However, it recently announced it would begin sending asylum seekers back to Mexico from Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti, which rights groups have denounced as an extension of Title 42.
At the same time, the United States will allow up to 30,000 Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan nationals to enter the country each month and grant them two-year work permits. But this process, known as “conditional release,” only applies to people who have a US-based sponsor who passes rigorous screening and will provide financial support.
Advocates have argued that establishing more accessible and widespread ways for refugees to come to the United States can help tackle irregular migration. In recent years, thousands of people have been forced to make perilous journeys to escape violence and disasters in their home countries.
Andrea Flores, a former Biden administration immigration official, applauded the new US refugee resettlement program announced this week. “We need creative pilot programs like Welcome Corps to address global migration trends,” Flores said in a Twitter post.
“With private refugee sponsorship and new parole options, the Biden administration will finally ease pressure at the border, negating any need to create new asylum restrictions.”
Do sponsors of Ukrainian refugees get paid?
You have the option of receiving a monthly payment of £350 for up to 12 months, paid in arrears, as long as you host your guests and provided the accommodation provided is of an appropriate standard. Read also : Appeal by Secretary Blinken with Colombian President-elect Petro – United States Department of State.
How much do you earn sponsoring a Ukrainian? We are offering a payment of £350 per month as a thank you to all sponsors – this will not affect any council tax reductions.
How much do you get paid for taking in a Ukrainian refugee?
Volunteers hosting Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion receive £350 per month per family as a “thank you”, on the condition that they do not charge rent. Read also : The situation in Burkina Faso – United States Department of State.
Do Ukrainian refugees get money in USA?
Ukrainian retirees who arrived in the United States after the outbreak of full-scale war will be eligible to receive the government’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pension. This was reported by the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Can I sponsor a refugee to come to UK?
Under the Community Sponsorship Scheme, anyone can start a local group and apply to sponsor a refugee family to find safety in the UK.
How much does it cost to sponsor a refugee in the UK? Financial ressources. The amount Community Sponsors need to raise can vary widely, depending on what in-kind support they can draw on, but the amount can typically range from around £5,000 to £20,000. As part of your application, you will be asked to confirm that you have funding of at least £9,000.00…
How do I find a refugee to sponsor UK?
Hosts can also register with various organizations if they are looking to sponsor someone….Find a Host or Sponsor through Matching Sites
- UK Refuge: UKrefuge â Helping refugees find accommodation.
- OPORA: OPORA.
- Sunflower Sisters: Helping Ukrainian women and refugees move to and settle in the UK (sunflowersisters.co.uk)
Can anyone sponsor a refugee?
Welcome a refugee to your community As a community sponsor, you can partner with your local resettlement agency to welcome a refugee family at their airport, help them find and provide initial housing, connect them with the local services and show him all the things. that make your community so special!
How do I invite refugees to UK?
Apply in the UK if you have refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK. they are making their first request to stay with you and they are already in the UK. they can prove that their relationship predates your departure from your home country due to persecution.
How much money do refugees get in UK?
In its 2021 review of financial allowances given to support destitute asylum seekers and those who have been refused asylum under section 95 and section 4(2) of the Immigration and Asylum, the Home Office has decided that the standard weekly level of the allowance will be increased. from £39.63 to £40.85 for each pick up…
Do refugees receive a housing allowance? Special provisions for asylum seekers You cannot benefit from universal credit or housing allowance to pay your rent. You can apply directly to a housing association or for private rental accommodation, but in England where immigration controls apply, you will not have ‘right to rent’ and landlords cannot accept you as a tenant.
How much is refugee cash assistance?
6. What is the amount of cash assistance? Each family member of a refugee is entitled to 2,200 MDL/month.
What are the benefits of refugees in UK?
You may be entitled to benefits such as:
- Universal Credit – if you are unemployed, too sick to work or on low pay.
- Pension Credit – if you have reached the legal retirement age.
- Housing allowance – if you need help paying the rent and you have reached retirement age or are in temporary or supported accommodation.
