U.S. Refugee Admissions Program suspended until further notice, Welcome Corps terminated

Last updated March 14, 2025 at 12:54 p.m. ET

President Trump’s administration has suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) until further notice, including refugee case processing and arrivals. The Welcome Corps program, which was a program within USRAP, was terminated in February 2025.

Background

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, allowed Americans and permanent residents to directly sponsor refugees for resettlement. Individuals and communities played an active role in welcoming and supporting refugees rebuilding their lives in the United States. Sponsors, in groups of at least five, helped refugees with housing, transportation, schooling, and finding jobs during their first months in the U.S. This approach to refugee resettlement encouraged community involvement and provided refugees with vital support as they integrated into American society.

Refugees sponsored through USRAP and the Welcome Corps were vetted by multiple U.S. security agencies and, if approved, were granted permission to enter, live, and work in the United States legally. Refugees who were 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 recent policy 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

• As of Jan. 22, 2025, all refugee processing by the departments of State and Homeland Security has been paused until further notice.
• On Feb. 26, 2025, the Welcome Corps program was terminated.
• All previously scheduled travel of refugees to the United States—including through the Welcome Corps—has been canceled, and no new travel will be scheduled.
• 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.
• A lawsuit, Pacito v. Trump, has been filed against the U.S. government’s decision to pause USRAP and cut off funds for refugee resettlement. We are tracking this lawsuit closely and will provide updates as it affects the future of refugee resettlement and the Welcome Corps program.

Note: Refugees who have already arrived in the U.S. through USRAP and the Welcome Corps are not affected by this policy announcement and retain their legal status.