The Office of Global Michigan, an agency within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, has called on residents to welcome refugees and assist in their resettlement efforts in the United States.
Global Michigan said in a Feb. 12 statement that Michigan residents are now able to “identify a specific refugee or refugee family overseas” and apply to sponsor their resettlement as part of the Welcome Corps.
Poppy Hernandez, director of Global Michigan and the state’s chief equity and inclusion officer, said the program aims to make Michigan “the home of opportunity for our immigrant, refugee and ethnic communities.”
“Expanded refugee resettlement pathways empower more Michiganders to support our state’s growing refugee population and build a more welcoming and inclusive Michigan for all,” she stated.
According to the statement, Michigan residents participating in the program would be required to provide support to “newly arrived refugees” for a period of 90 days.
During this time, resident volunteers are expected to meet and greet the individual or family at the airport, secure and prepare initial housing, enroll children in school, and help to find employment.
“Sponsors receive technical support from Private Sponsor Organizations (PSO), which offer hands-on guidance to sponsors and refugees throughout their sponsorship journeys,” Global Michigan stated.
Michigan residents may sponsor people of any nationality, but the applicants must meet the definition of a refugee under U.S. law and be eligible for resettlement via the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
Volunteers are also encouraged to provide financial support through a direct tax-deductible donation, which will be used to help support newcomers with housing, legal services, interpretation support, education services, and support for children.
Global Michigan said there is “substantial evidence indicating that the foreign-born population significantly contributes to the Michigan economy, introducing valuable diversity to the political landscape and enriching our social fabric.”
“Immigrant households in Michigan wield an impressive $18 billion in annual spending power, with approximately 15 percent of business owners in Southeast Michigan being immigrants,” it stated.
