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119-s-2655119th Congress

Community-based Refugee Reception Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a new community-based refugee sponsorship program inside the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program to let local groups directly provide initial reception and placement services. It would set rules for sponsor eligibility, require pre-arrival training, and require at least 90 days of reception support.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

New rules for refugee sponsors

If enacted, groups that want to sponsor refugees would need at least three U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who live where the refugee will settle. Sponsors must raise funds the Secretary requires for the initial sponsorship period and finish required pre-arrival training, unless a limited exception applies. Sponsors would provide reception and placement services for at least 90 days after admission. Refugees would still be able to access other public benefits beyond that 90-day reception period.

Grants to train and support sponsors

This bill would allow the Secretary to make grants and contracts to organizations to pay for training and services for community sponsorship groups. Recipients should be geographically diverse and include groups experienced with sponsorship, veterans' groups, faith-based groups, and private sponsor organizations. These organizations would help create required pre-application training on 90-day sponsor duties, refugee rights, access to public benefits, continuity-of-support rules, fraud prevention, and a way for refugees to report bad or criminal sponsor behavior. Grants must coordinate with other assistance and not replace other payments.

New community refugee reception program

This bill would create a Community-based Refugee Reception Program inside the U.S. refugee admissions system. The Secretary of State, with DHS and HHS, would have 90 days after enactment to set it up. Refugees referred by eligible community sponsorship groups could be admitted under section 207 and get at least 90 days of sponsored reception and placement help. Refugees admitted through this program would not count against certain refugee numerical limits.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

CT • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 8/1/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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