Welcome.US

Many sponsors have asked how potential policy changes in 2025 could impact the future of welcoming and what we might expect for sponsors and the newcomers they support through humanitarian parole. To understand what options newcomers may have if their parole status comes to an end, it’s important to explore the other pathways available for those sponsored through humanitarian parole. If a newcomer was sponsored through humanitarian parole, several alternative status options are available. All newcomers who have a viable claim can apply for asylum. Asylum is difficult to apply for and receive, but if granted, it is a permanent legal status to reside in the United States with a path to citizenship. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a discretionary authority, similar to parole. TPS can be an option for Ukrainians, Haitians, and Venezuelans, depending on their arrival date in the U.S. It is possible that USCIS will issue re-designations to allow people who arrived after the given date to apply as well, but it is not known at this time if that will happen. Cubans who have been in the U.S. for more than one year can apply for an adjustment to permanent status through the Cuban Adjustment Act. Navigating these uncertain times can be challenging, but we’re here to help. For more information and answers to other frequently asked questions, visit https://lnkd.in/gP9TgHhe. 

Moved by the crisis sparked by Russia’s war in Ukraine in 2022, college professor Angela Boelens knew she had to do something to help. The answer came when she discovered Welcome Connect and she decided to sponsor three Ukrainian families. With the support of her community in DeWitt, Iowa, Angela’s ultimate act of welcome sparked a town-wide effort of generosity and support. IA NICE, a nonprofit volunteer organization, expanded efforts beyond individual or group sponsorship and created its own model of collective action, inspiring other communities in the state to get involved in welcoming work. From banker Greg Gannon who rallied 21 investors to fund transitional housing, to retired nurse Karen McWilliams who sets up those homes and assists newcomers with vital appointments, each volunteer in the organization has played a unique role in welcoming 22 Ukrainian families—a total of 65 individuals—to DeWitt so far. Read how this chain reaction of welcoming brought an entire town together and changed the lives of families seeking safety in the United States → https://lnkd.in/g7KWDgF8

Now more than ever, there is an urgent need for Americans to step up as sponsors. Sponsorship is one of the few safe pathways for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, Ukrainians, and Venezuelans to find refuge in the United States. The Welcome Connect platform enables everyday Americans to provide a lifeline for those seeking safety and a chance to rebuild their lives in the United States. Individuals or groups in America who want to sponsor a newcomer can start their sponsorship journey by registering at any time on Welcome.US/welcome-connect.

Welcome Connect is a FREE platform; you should never pay for access or assistance. Do not pay money to anyone who claims they can help you find a sponsor or access Welcome Connect for a fee. We are, and will continue, investigating reports of fraud and suspicious activity to block these users from accessing the platform. Registration for Welcome Connect will be ongoing on a limited and scheduled basis to ensure successful connections between sponsors and beneficiaries. For more information and resources, visit Welcome.US.

Shop unique holiday gifts, and make a big impact! Check out these five refugee-run businesses for creative gift giving ideas that support refugees as they settle into new communities across the country. https://lnkd.in/gtpZxvnP

As we await policy decisions from the new administration, we’ve received many questions about the state of welcoming and what to expect for sponsors and the newcomers they support through humanitarian parole. If you plan to sponsor a newcomer and haven’t submitted your application for humanitarian parole yet, you should consider doing so as soon as possible. While there is no guarantee that newcomers will arrive before the program is potentially impacted by a change in programs or new policies, we know that sponsors are committed to being a bridge to safety. Sponsorship through humanitarian parole is granted by executive order for a temporary two-year period; if a humanitarian parole program ends, individuals who have entered the U.S. through that program could lose the status granted through sponsorship. We do not know yet how a new administration’s policies will impact sponsorship programs. We do know that sponsors can help newcomers to prepare for potential changes by applying for an alternate legal status now. Navigating these uncertain times can be challenging, but we’re here to help. For more information and answers to other frequently asked questions, visit https://lnkd.in/gP9TgHhe

Last week, the Welcome.US team hosted a live webinar exploring potential changes to private sponsorship in 2025 and ways that Welcomers can continue making a difference. The webinar covered the possible impacts to newcomers who have arrived in the U.S. through sponsorship, anticipated policy changes in 2025, and opportunities to continue supporting sponsors and newcomers. Watch the webinar → https://lnkd.in/eJtGx_Jb

During the season of giving, we celebrate all of the Welcomers across America—compassionate, big-hearted individuals who are dedicated to helping those in need and strengthening the communities they call home. Welcome.US is honored to have been recognized by both Nicholas Kristof’s Holiday Impact Prize and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Foundation as an organization making a real impact on the lives of newcomers in the United States. Our national mission of welcome would not be possible without the support and dedication of local organizations and Welcomers across the country. Their impact lifts up the communities they serve. Donations to the Welcome Fund—our grant program in partnership with GoFundMe.org—provide direct assistance to the community-based organizations doing critical work to resettle and support newcomers during this uncertain time. During this holiday season, your gift will strengthen and champion this work. Support our partners → https://lnkd.in/eXAPaBks

“Humanitarian parole was complete salvation. Salvation from politics. Salvation from repression. Salvation from a family situation that was terrifying," Emily, a newcomer from Venezuela, shared with The New Yorker. Now Emily, her family, and others from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who legally entered the United States for refuge through humanitarian parole wait to see if policy changes in 2025 will impact their status. Read more ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gDX8YeGQ

“I cannot even put in words how hard it was,” Nataliia shared. Nataliia, Nick, and their three children were living in incredibly difficult circumstances in Ukraine after Russia invaded in 2022. Soldiers were stationed mere miles from their home, and they spent months in bomb shelters living without drinking water or electricity. Eventually, the family reached their limit, and applied for sponsorship in the U.S., connecting with Mary. Mary lived a life of service abroad. From working in Haiti to Honduras, she has always been passionate about helping others. She began looking for ways to help others in her own community in Michigan. Through Mary’s compassionate act of sponsorship, the family has now found safety, security, and comfort in the U.S. Read their story→ https://lnkd.in/e_qJ3jsg