‘What’s at stake?’ An exploration on the merits and drawbacks of the Welcome Corps Program,a private sponsorship of refugees

Abstract

To address the decline in US refugee admissions, the Biden Administration launched ‘Welcome Corps’, a program that encourages Americans to welcome refugees arriving through the US Refugee Admissions Program. This article includes a historical overview of private sponsorship models in the United States and globally. In addition to an overview of the initiative, potential benefits include more US citizens to sponsor refugees and family sponsorships. Potential challenges include resettlement workers feeling overwhelmed with program oversight and a decline in government aid. Recommendations focus on ways to make Welcome Corps more efficient for policymakers, social workers, and community advocates.

Keywords

Private sponsorship refugee resettlement and policy Welcome Corps program

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