It would seem that President Joe Biden can’t do much on immigration without being sent to court. His proposed plan to stem the flow of asylum seekers – requiring petitioners to apply through the CBP One application before arriving at the border – has prompted the American Civil Liberties Union to file a lawsuit following its formal approval.
In addition, its program to provide a pathway for the wave of people fleeing Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela – offering them up to two years of temporary “humanitarian parole” – is already being litigated by 20 Republican attorneys general.
However, there is one thing Biden is doing to fix the U.S. immigration system that is not in danger of being overturned in court, much less stirring controversy: the Welcome Corps.
Under this State Department program launched in January, groups of five or more Americans can sponsor refugees screened by the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and help them settle permanently in their communities. That’s why today in Jaskot Law we will tell you what the Welcome Corps program is and how to access them.
If you have further questions about the asylum petition process or are experiencing difficulties with USCIS, please contact us at +1 (410) 235-6868 or [email protected].
What are the Welcome Corps?
The Welcome Corps program was launched on January 19, 2023 by the Department of State in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is a program that allows Americans to join together to sponsor refugees privately, based on the long American tradition of providing refuge.
The State Department is funding a group of nonprofit organizations with expertise in refugee resettlement, protection and hosting to launch the Welcome Corps.
This group consists of the Church World Service/Refugee Welcome Collective, Community Sponsorship Hub (CSH), Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS), International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Welcome.US.
What is the purpose of the Welcome Corps?
Through the Welcome Corps program, Americans can apply to form Private Sponsorship Groups (PSGs) to welcome refugees into local communities and directly help newly arrived refugees build their new lives in the United States.
As a private sponsor of the Welcome Corps, each American will work with other members of his or her PSG to take on tasks such as securing and furnishing initialhousing, greeting newly arrived refugees at the airport, enrolling children in school, and helping adults find employment.
While hosting refugees through private sponsorship is an important responsibility, the Welcome Corps seeks predisposed citizens who know their local community to facilitate the refugees’ adjustment.
Who are the beneficiaries of the Welcome Corps Program?
The new Welcome Corps program targets refugees seeking to enter the United States. These are people who have been forced to flee their countries of origin due to persecution or fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.
In addition, they often live in refugee camps and cities outside their home countries until they are able to return home, integrate locally in the country to which they fled, or be permanently resettled in a third country such as the United States.
Through the Welcome Corps, GRB supports individuals who have been deemed refugees by the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services and approved for resettlement by the U.S. government through the Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
Refugees will be referred for resettlement only when resettlement constitutes their best possible durable solution, i.e. when they cannot return to their country of origin and have no prospect of local integration in the country to which they fled.
Prior to arriving in the United States, all refugees admitted through USRAP, including refugees supported through the Welcome Corps, will undergo a thorough security screening and health examination by the U.S. government. Only those refugee claimants who pass the exhaustive security vetting process, which includes vetting by U.S. government law enforcement and intelligence services, will be approved for resettlement in the United States.
Conclusion
President Joe Biden’s administration is not making much progress on immigration reform. Between the judicial interventions and the stalemate in Congress due to differences with the Republican Party, it seems that we are far from finding relief measures for the situation of many migrants.
However, the Welcome Corps program is gaining ground and is working as a measure to fix the U.S. immigration system without running the risk of being overturned in court. It is a program that allows Americans to join together to sponsor refugees privately, and thus help them settle permanently in their communities.
The Welcome Corps program is expected to expand in mid-2023 to allow private sponsors to identify refugees in need of protection whom they wish to sponsor and refer refugee claimants for consideration to USRAP. However, this will be subject to the program criteria established by the U.S. government, which will provide more information on this program extension in the coming months.
If you have further questions about the asylum application process or wish to enroll in the Welcome Corps program, at Jaskot Law we can help you. Contact us at +1 (410) 235-6868 or [email protected].
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FAQs
What are the Welcome Corps?
The Welcome Corps program was launched on January 19, 2023 by the Department of State in coordination with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is a program that allows Americans to join together to sponsor refugees privately, building on our country’s long tradition of providing refuge.
What is the purpose of the Welcome Corps?
Through the Welcome Corps program, Americans can apply to form Private Sponsorship Groups (PSGs) to welcome refugees into local communities and directly help newly arrived refugees build their new lives in the United States.
What are the tasks of private sponsors?
As a private sponsor of the Welcome Corps, each American will work with other members of his or her PSG to take on tasks such as securing and furnishing initial housing, greeting newly arrived refugees at the airport, enrolling children in school, and helping adults find employment.
Who are the beneficiaries of the Welcome Corps Program?
The new Welcome Corps program targets refugees seeking to enter the United States. These are people who have been forced to flee their countries of origin due to persecution or fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.
Through the Welcome Corps, GRB supports individuals who have been deemed refugees by the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services and approved for resettlement by the U.S. government through the Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
How to access the Welcome Corps Program?
To access the Welcome Corps Program, Americans interested in sponsoring refugees must apply to form Private Sponsorship Groups (PSGs) through one of the Welcome Corps partner organizations. Some of these organizations are: Church World Service/Refugee Welcome Collective, Community Sponsorship Hub (CSH), Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS), International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Welcome.US.
