Privatization has been a buzzword often applied to industries in commerce and more recently healthcare. However, the Biden Administration has announced a new face of the United States Refugee Admission Program, the welcome corps. This new initiative relies on privately funded individuals and groups to take on the support of refugees in their community, during their transitional period in the US.

The initiative came to life through executive order 14301 and will roll out in two phases. The first phase which starts in early 2023 with around 10,000 Americans volunteering to sponsor will be matched with 5,000 refugees. The hope is to motivate everyday Americans to be more active in the resettlement process and to create better-connected communities throughout the US.

“I think it [the welcome corps] will help, because when I came to the united states with my husband and kids, we had no idea where to go, but a community group came to be our guide. Showing us where to go and how to buy a bus pass. They helped us with green cards, citizenship, at that time they provided us with a circle of friends of these volunteers. Lutheran services of Iowa was the agency,” said math teacher Ms. Rahmatallah.

The Welcome Corps will not replace previous systems, but rather act in tandem, creating more opportunities for resettlement. Expanding the USRAP (and other humanitarian agencies) by allowing private individuals to make contact, welcome and support refugees themselves. This expansion follows the Biden administrator picking up general numbers of refugees accepted into the US after numbers were slashed by the Trump Administration.

“When you’re here by yourself not knowing the language or the culture, how to drive especially, it was really hard to adjust especially during winter here. Without the private group that helped us things could be very different today for my family,” said Rahmatallah. 

While sponsors who apply will be vetted and trained, there are worries they will not be fully equipped to face sudden challenges that could arise. As sponsors they could have to overcome language barriers, provide knowledge to access healthcare and much more. Still, as welcome corps will go into effect this year, with the increased volume of refugees and individuals involved with their transition many have high hopes for its future.

Check out the resources linked above to learn more about the program and how to apply to facilitate the immigration of a refugee.