We have an exciting opportunity for you to make a tangible difference in the lives of refugees. In January 2023, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the Welcome Corps, giving everyday Americans the opportunity to sponsor refugees and support their journey toward safety, stability, and a brighter future via resettlement to the United States.
On June 20, just in time for World Refugee Day, the first refugees resettled through the Welcome Corps program arrived in the United States. In its first year, the Department of State aims to resettle 5,000 refugees through the Welcome Corps. This is where you come in!
By becoming a private sponsor, you will play a vital role in providing critical initial welcoming support to refugees. Private Sponsor Groups (PSGs) are matched with a refugee newcomer family, who they welcome by securing and preparing initial housing, greeting refugee newcomers at the airport, enrolling children in school, and helping adults to find employment. By joining or forming a PSG, you will be creating a bridge of understanding and compassion, demonstrating that our communities are places of welcome, refuge, and opportunity.
IRAP is proudly supporting the Welcome Corps program in several ways, including by developing legal resources and guidance for sponsors and refugees, and by encouraging our supporters to step up and become a welcomer.
We hope you will embrace the opportunity to help people seeking safety, and enrich your life and your community in the process!
TAKE ACTION:
- Visit the Welcome Corps website to learn more about the program and the requirements to become a sponsor.
- Share this opportunity with your family, friends, and co-workers and invite them to form a sponsor group.
- Subscribe here for more information via email, or follow the Welcome Corps on Twitter and Facebook.
Thank you for your compassion and commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive society for all people seeking safety.