WASHINGTON, DC—Welcome.US, the Venezuelan American Alliance, and Casa de Venezuela Orlando discussed the recently launched Process for Venezuelans, which provides a pathway for 24,000 Venezuelans to resettle in the United States with the help of a sponsor, the specific ways that Americans can participate, and why private sponsorship is key to expanding our country’s capacity to welcome refugees.
Key quotes are below; watch the full press call here.
“The new program launched by the U.S. government on Tuesday is modeled after the Uniting for Ukraine program. And the very good news is many, many Americans are interested in providing a welcome,” said Cecilia Muñoz, Co-Founder and Co-Chair, Welcome.US. “In just six months, nearly 150,000 Americans stepped up to sponsor Ukrainians in need of refuge. We believe, and we will be working to make sure that this is true also in the case of Venezuelans. We have the capacity as a country to ensure a safe and orderly pathway for the Venezuelans that the government will be allowing to enter through this new program. Private sponsorship is a viable path forward to expand our resettlement capacity.”
“The immigration crisis in Venezuela is the largest humanitarian crisis in the hemisphere and the largest in the world right now. The crisis has reached dimensions that surpass those in Syria and Ukraine. The systematic deterioration of the quality of life and the deep economic, social, and political crisis has forced more than 7 million people, approximately 30% of the population, to leave the country,” said Maria Antonietta Diaz, Founder/President, Venezuelan American Alliance. “That’s why we invite the American community to join us in this humanitarian program sponsoring Venezuelans and reunite with their families and provide the opportunity for a better life.”
“I want just to emphasize that the Venezuelans coming, many have pretty good degrees or hold a good level of education, [...] and there is an important fact, which is family reunion. There are a lot of professionals living right now in the United States, but then the husband is in Venezuela or the opposite, the wife in Venezuela,” said William Diaz, President/Founder, Casa de Venezuela Orlando.
On October 12, the Biden Administration announced the Process for Venezuelans, which offers a new pathway to Venezuelans seeking refuge in the U.S. The program is modeled on the Uniting for Ukraine program and builds on its success. The desire of American communities to help welcome is what has made that program a success: In just six months, nearly 150,000 Americans stepped up to sponsor Ukrainians in need of refuge. Under both programs, Ukrainians and Venezuelans seeking refuge in the United States require the support of an American sponsor.
**Resources and How Americans Can Help **
Welcome.US, whose mission is to unleash the desire and capacity of Americans to welcome newcomers and help them thrive, is expanding its innovative sponsorship tools to help American sponsors and the Venezuelan newcomers they support.
People can visit the Welcome.US Venezuela Welcome Hub (http://welcome.us/Venezuela) for answers to frequently asked questions and a guide to the new sponsorship program for Venezuelans. They can also sign up to get more information on sponsorship and new resources as they become available.
If you already know Venezuelans that you would like to sponsor, this resource will guide you step-by-step through the application process. If not, Americans can sign up to be alerted for a future opportunity as soon as it is available. This guide is available in both English and Spanish.
About Welcome.US At Welcome.US, our mission is to unleash the desire and capacity of Americans to welcome newcomers and help them thrive. We operate on the evidence that direct participation with newcomers transforms both the welcomer and those being welcomed. By making it easier for Americans from all walks of life to participate in the work of welcoming—and telling their stories—we are building a movement that celebrates America’s welcoming spirit by providing an opportunity to serve for all who seek to welcome. Our diverse community of Welcomers reaches across real and perceived divides to meet the needs of newcomers more effectively. In partnership with local and national resettlement agencies, diaspora organizations and leaders, refugees, community sponsorship groups, nonprofits, businesses, faith-based institutions, veterans, universities, four former Presidents and four former First Ladies, Welcome.US is a single point of entry for Americans who want to get involved and support those who are starting new lives in the United States.
To learn more about Welcome.US, please visit welcome.us.
About Venezuelan American Alliance The Venezuelan American Alliance seeks to create awareness of the social, political and economic situation in Venezuela among the United States government and population, to advocate for legislation, regulation and programs to support and promote freedom, democracy and human rights for its population and diaspora, and help regain the road to prosperity.
About Casa de Venezuela Orlando Casa de Venezuela Orlando is part of the Casa De Venezuela US Network of non-for-profit organizations, whose mission is to promote the culture, traditions, folklore and roots of Venezuela through cultural arts, educational, community and social events and programs.
