The Facts
On Thursday, the Biden administration announced a new program — dubbed the "Welcome Corps" — to allow groups of private citizens to sponsor refugees to live in the United States.
According to the State Department, five or more Americans could form a group and apply to privately sponsor refugees fleeing violence or persecution to resettle in the US. This would complement the role currently being played by refugee resettlement nonprofits.
The Spin
Democratic narrative
Biden’s latest refugee program is forward-thinking and could accelerate lagging refugee admissions in the United States. Allowing Americans to play an active role in the immigration process will enable American citizens to support a critical humanitarian mission. Furthermore, a private refugee sponsorship program could reduce government costs and help revive the US economy after COVID.
Republican narrative
This isn't a compassionate refugee program, it's another tactic to bring in more new immigrants — aka frequent Democrat voters — into the US. The US has already accepted 1M refugees over the past 20 years, most of whom then pursue green cards and eventually citizenship. Programs like this cost Americans billions of dollars a year and, more importantly, inorganically shift the electoral landscape.
