Community-based Refugee Reception Act of 2025

This bill sets up a new, community-based way to welcome refugees. Local groups of at least three U.S. citizens or green card holders can apply to sponsor newly arrived refugees for at least 90 days, helping with housing, basic needs, and connections to jobs, schools, and health care. The State Department must build this program within 90 days of the law taking effect and create an approval process for community groups. Refugees in the program can still use other public benefits. This effort is meant to add to, not replace, the work of established resettlement agencies. The bill also allows referrals from approved community groups to be treated as a special priority and not count against certain numerical caps.

To make it work well, the State Department can fund organizations to train sponsors, set rules to prevent fraud or abuse, and create a way for refugees to report problems. The Department must share yearly estimates with states and localities on how many refugees may arrive through this program. Money is authorized starting in fiscal year 2026 and ongoing.

• Who: Refugees and local community sponsorship groups (3+ members, with training and funds).
• What: A 90-day sponsorship model providing housing and other first steps; adds to existing resettlement, doesn’t replace it; referrals by eligible groups get special processing and don’t count toward certain caps.
• When: Program created within 90 days of enactment; state/local reporting begins by 60 days after September 20, 2026, and then yearly; funding authorized from FY2026 forward.