As of January 22, 2025, President Trump’s administration has suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) until further notice, including refugee case processing and arrivals, except on a case-by-case basis as determined jointly by the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security. This includes the Welcome Corps, a private sponsorship program under USRAP.
The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is a government initiative, authorized by Congress in 1980, that provides a legal pathway for refugees to resettle in the United States. Through this program, refugees are granted the opportunity to become permanent residents and, ultimately, citizens of the United States.
The Welcome Corps, launched in 2023 by the U.S. State Department, aims to enhance USRAP by enabling eligible Americans and permanent residents to directly sponsor refugees for resettlement. This means that individuals and communities can take an active role in welcoming and supporting refugees as they rebuild their lives in the United States.
Sponsors work in groups of at least five people to support a refugee or refugee family’s first months in the U.S., raising private resources to secure and prepare initial housing, provide for transportation, enroll children in school, and help adults find employment. This innovative approach to refugee resettlement fosters a sense of shared responsibility and community engagement, while also providing refugees with essential support and resources as they integrate into American society.
Refugees sponsored through USRAP and the Welcome Corps are vetted by multiple U.S. security agencies and if approved, are granted permission to enter, live, and work in the United States legally. Refugees resettled in the U.S. are able to stay permanently and have a pathway to citizenship after five years.
Below is a summary of what these changes mean for the program and the people it served. Visit our Policy Updates page for expert guidance, FAQs, and other resources, and subscribe to receive emails with the latest updates.
Key changes:
- All refugee processing by the departments of State and Homeland Security, including through the Welcome Corps private sponsorship program, has been paused until further notice.
- All previously scheduled travel of refugees to the United States—including through the Welcome Corps—have been canceled, and no new travel bookings will be made.
- Intake of new applications for the Welcome Corps is suspended, as well as processing of all active or previously submitted applications.
- USRAP will not be accepting any new referrals of refugees into the program.
- Exemptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis as determined jointly by the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security.
- If you have questions about a pending Welcome Corps case, please see our guide for contacting your congressional representatives for information on how to contact your representatives with concerns about a specific case or about sponsorship programs more generally.
Note: Refugees who have already arrived in the U.S. through the Welcome Corps are not affected by this policy announcement. Refugees already admitted to the United States will continue to receive Reception and Placement services. Sponsors who have welcomed refugees within the last 90 days will continue to be supported by the program.
