Private Sponsorship: Sponsor Circles and Uniting for Ukraine
By Marisa Tesoro
In the past year, two different private sponsorship models have been launched: Sponsor Circles and now Uniting for Ukraine. While the idea of using private sponsorship for welcoming refugees and others fleeing violence is not new, finding new ways of leveraging private support for refugees has gained significant interest recently.
In the fall of 2021, local resettlement agencies across the country were receiving record numbers of Afghan evacuees. To distribute some of the support needed, the Sponsor Circles program was created.
Sponsor Circles was a new route to resettlement that was established at the height of Afghan arrivals. The goal was to allow private sponsors, rather than only resettlement agencies, to welcome newcomers and act as a resettlement agency: welcome folks at the airport, find housing, enroll kids in school, take them to the doctor, sign them up for public benefits, and, most importantly, support them financially.
Learn more about this program here.
Last week the Biden administration announced a similar new program for Ukrainians fleeing conflict overseas. Uniting for Ukraine is another private sponsorship model that allows folks in the U.S. to sign up on the DHS website to volunteer to sponsor Ukrainians looking to resettle in the U.S.
USCIS has provided more details about this program, who can be a sponsor, and what sponsorship involves.
Ukrainians may have different immigration statuses. If they go through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and/or Lautenberg Program, they could have the legal designation of refugees and be eligible for public benefits and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) services.
Other Ukrainians may be admitted to the U.S. under Humanitarian Parole or have Temporary Protected Status (TPS), through which they can apply for work authorization and a social security number. However, the protection this status provides does not extend to the provision of benefits and services to which refugees who are admitted through the USRAP are entitled, nor does it provide a clear pathway to permanent residency for those who desire to stay in this country long-term.
Many Afghan Humanitarian Parolees became eligible for public benefits due to legislation that was passed by Congress. Because similar legislation has yet to be passed for Ukrainian parolees, the need for community support will be great.
Ukraine.Welcome.US is a platform where you can learn more about getting involved and supporting Ukrainian newcomers:
Learn more about being a sponsor
Sign up to receive updates
Donate to a Welcome Fund
Donate housing through Airbnb
Donate airline miles
Purchase essential goods (coming soon)
Their existing Welcome Exchange has also been expanded to meet the needs of Ukrainian arrivals.
And, last but not least, the National Immigration Forum has created a super helpful explainer providing more information on the history of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and recent private sponsorship programs for refugees and parolees.