The State Department launches a new way for ordinary Americans to resettle refugees

With refugee resettlement organizations stretched thin, the State Department is trying to make it easier for everyday Americans to sponsor refugees from abroad and help them resettle in the U.S.

The private sponsorship program announced today, known as Welcome Corps, could mark a significant shift in how refugee resettlement in the U.S. works. Until now, the State Department has relied on refugee resettlement organizations to do this work. But those groups have been struggling to rebuild after deep cuts during the administration of former President Donald Trump.

The new pilot program is modeled in part on previous efforts to resettle Afghans who were evacuated last year and Ukrainians fleeing the war in their country. Now that approach is expanding to other refugees from around the globe.