Latest news with #MIAMI
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three Predictions: The U, Duyon Forkpa, Brian Harris
© Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images Rivals national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. has predictions on Miami signing a top-five class, an IMG Academy standout staying in Florida for college and a former Maryland commit ending up in the SEC. Advertisement CANTWELL COMMITMENT: Five pivotal moments that led Cantwell to Miami | Miami pulls off a stunner | Gorney: Kirby, UGA did everything right but it wasn't enough | Cantwell's decision stings Georgia the most | How often do No. 1 prospects flip from their original commitment? | Cantwell will be catalyst for Miami's next top class | coverage CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State CLASS OF 2027 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State TRANSFER PORTAL: Full coverage | Player ranking | Team ranking | Transfer search | Transfer Tracker MIAMI WILL FINISH WITH A TOP-FIVE CLASS Nick Lucero/ Advertisement Of course No. 1 recruit Jackson Cantwell is a major win for Mario Cristobal as his program works toward perhaps securing the top offensive line haul in the country, but the Cantwell addition will also help to push other recruits toward Miami. The Hurricanes are currently No. 8 in the Rivals Team Recruiting Rankings, but I predict their climb to continue into the the top five. The U never lacks on the trail, but the late-breaking win over Georgia and Oregon sent shockwaves through the industry and should allow for even more momentum to muster with additional elite targets. Priority No. 1 going forward, and perhaps prior, is the top prospect in South Florida: Derrek Cooper. The five-star running back has a national offer list and just hosted Ohio State and Texas coaches for visits, but Miami and Georgia have been the front-runners in this race for quite some time. Advertisement Sound familiar? Miami is recruiting against the very best close to home and beyond, and Cristobal is coming up on the winning side more and more as time rolls on. Landing Cooper would represent the second-straight cycle in which the area's top recruit stays home at The U after the Hurricanes secured Bryce Fitzgerald in 2025. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MIAMI FANS AT DUYON FORKPA WILL PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN FLORIDA DQ Forkpa Georgia native Duyon Forkpa made the move to IMG Academy after his junior football season and he has fit right in thus far. The rocked-up linebacker, who clocked a sub-4.5-second 40-yard dash this offseason, has seen his offer list explode. Forkpa has also hit the visit trail hard since the move to the Sunshine State. Advertisement Florida State hosted Forkpa earlier in the spring and the Seminoles built some buzz. It may have shifted to a rival, however, following a visit to Gainesville to check out the Florida Gators thereafter. Michigan, Colorado and several other programs are working to get the blue-chipper out of the state, but the momentum is with Billy Napier's staff at the moment. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH FLORIDA FANS AT 1ST AND TEN FLORIDA SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH FSU FANS AT BRIAN HARRIS WILL SIGN WITH AN SEC PROGRAM Jeff McCulloch/ An early Big Ten commitment to Maryland before seeing dozens of new scholarship offers come in, Brian Harris has a final five of Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State and South Carolina going into a May 23 decision. The Big Ten still plays a strong role in this one, and Penn State looked to be in the best shape earlier this spring, but we now see this recruitment staying closer to home for the Floridian – at least by conference standards. Advertisement Harris should be considered an SEC lean, not only by the conference sporting the majority of the finalists, but also by the visits and offer trends late in this recruitment. 'Bama is the most recent offer, shortly after a trip to Tuscaloosa. Oklahoma was a game-changer that also resulted in an immediate trip to Norman. South Carolina was the first SEC program to jump in and that vote of confidence has played a larger role as the recruitment has rolled on through spring football. Sources close to the Jacksonville native point to the Sooners and Gamecocks as two of the major players jockeying for position down the stretch, for what it's worth.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The 10 biggest storylines of the transfer portal on Thursday
The transfer portal opened on Wednesday with a flurry of activity. Here are the biggest transfer announcements from day nine of the 2025 spring transfer window. RELATED: Versatile veteran OL Jakai Moore departs South Carolina MORE TRANSFER PORTAL: Latest news | Transfer search | Transfer Team Ranking | Football Player Ranking 1. WR NY CARR RETURNING TO MIAMI Miami has been working on adding to its receiving corps this transfer cycle so losing Ny Carr to the portal was a blow. On Thursday, the second-year receiver out of Georgia decided to return to the Hurricanes, giving new quarterback Carson Beck and the offense another weapon for the upcoming season. Carr was a top-100 prospect in the 2024 Rivals250 but has yet to make a significant impact on the field. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MIAMI FANS AT 2. ARKANSAS REPLACES MADDEN IAMALEAVA The Razorbacks lost Madden Iamaleava earlier this week when he transferred back home to UCLA with his brother Nico Iamaleava. The 2024 signee left a hole in the Arkansas quarterback room when he left. Enter Trever Jackson, who was part of Florida State's 2024 recruiting class. Just like Iamaleva, Jackson still has four years of eligibility to use. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH ARKANSAS FANS AT 3. ALL-BIG 12 SAFETY A.J. HAULCY HOLDING COURT All-Big 12 safety A.J. Haulcy has been making waves in the transfer portal ever since he announced his intentions earlier this week. Programs have been jumping at the chance to add the former Houston standout to their roster. So much so, in fact, that they are flying to meet him in Houston rather than having him visit campus. Ole Miss was the latest team to meet with him and Miami has also been in contact. LSU is in the mix here, too. Expect his recruitment to continue to attract suitors as the process goes on. 4. TEXAS TECH CONTINUES TO BUILD STRONG TRANSFER CLASS The Red Raiders and head coach Joey McGuire have been one of the most active teams in the transfer portal this cycle and they added another impressive young player on Thursday in Cash Cleveland. The former walk-on thrived at Colorado last season, finishing his first collegiate season as a Freshman All-American. Cleveland will suit up for Texas Tech for the next three years. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH TEXAS TECH FANS AT 5. UCF ADDS NOTABLE QUARTERBACK TRANSFER Head coach Scott Frost and his staff are rebuilding the UCF roster and they've solidified their quarterback room with the addition of Davi Belfort. The Florida native signed with Virginia Tech as part of the Hokies' 2024 recruiting class and used his redshirt this past season. Belfort, the son of MMA legend Vitor Belfort, has four years of eligibility remaining. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH UCF FANS AT 6. VIRGINIA TECH WORKING ON REPLENISHING THEIR OFFENSIVE LINE Virginia Tech has seen mass defections from its offensive line this offseason and now the program is to the point where it won't have a returning starter upfront for the 2025 season. On Thursday the Hokies took a step in the right direction by picking up a commitment from former West Virginia offensive lineman Gavin Crawford. Crawford signed with the Mountaineers in the 2024 recruiting class and has four years of eligibility remaining. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH VIRGINIA TECH FANS AT 7. NORTH CAROLINA BOLSTERING OFFENSIVE LINE CLASS Head coach Bill Belichick and company continue to remake the North Carolina roster through the transfer portal, which was expected leading into the spring window. On Thursday the Tar Heels picked up their sixth offensive line commitment of the transfer cycle in Jordan Hall. The 6-foot-8, 310-pound offensive tackle comes to Chapel Hill after suiting up for UAB last season. Hall isn't expected to be a significant contributor this season, but if he's able to develop in the North Carolina strength and conditioning program and reach his potential he could turn into a key piece of the North Carolina offense. He has three years of eligibility remaining. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH UNC FANS AT 8. SOUTH CAROLINA QB HITS THE TRANSFER PORTAL South Carolina is looking forward to a great 2025 season with LaNorris Sellers leading the charge at quarterback. The Gamecocks also signed former Ohio State quarterback Air Noland earlier this transfer cycle. He and 2024 signee Dante Reno were competing for the No. 2 spot on the death chart throughout the spring. Now Reno is headed for the transfer portal. Reno, the son of Yale football head coach Tony Reno, has already been hearing from programs around the country. 9. MISSISSIPPI STATE GETS REINFORCEMENTS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE Mississippi State and head coach Jeff Lebby have been busy this transfer cycle and their latest addition comes to the Bulldogs with significant starting experience. Former Virginia right tackle Blake Steen committed to Mississippi State on Thursday. Steen, who was in Starkville for a visit over the weekend, has two years of eligibility remaining after starting for the Cavaliers for the last season and a half. Advertisement SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MISSISSIPPI STATE FANS AT 10. EXPERIENCED SEC OFFENSIVE LINEMAN ENTERS THE PORTAL Jakai Moore was supposed to be a starter for South Carolina this past season but a season-ending shoulder injury derailed those plans. The offensive lineman who signed with the Gamecocks in the 2019 class has played 1,760 snaps in his career according to Pro Football Focus. Moore, who has started 28 times and played in 44 games, is petitioning the NCAA for another year of eligibility and, if approved, he'll be very popular with teams in need of help along the offensive front.
Forbes
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Why Gourmand Fragrances Are Trending This Summer Season
D.S. & Durga's Pistachio is one of the Gourmand trend's best-selling fragrances The perfume industry is enjoying a surge in gourmand fragrances. This rapidly growing sector is characterized by sweet, edible-like scents that evoke the sensations of delicious food and desserts. According to MarkWide Research these fragrances have gained significant popularity in recent years due to their unique and indulgent nature. New Beauty claims that the search for gourmand fragrances is predicted to increase by 33.9 % in 2025. Caramel perfume is expected to see the biggest jump within the category, with an over 42 % increase. Other gourmand scents predicted to trend include marshmallow perfume and especially vanilla, which in 2024 took the spotlight as a key ingredient—from creamy, smooth and fluffy vanilla to rich, smoky or even boozy vanilla. Creme Vanille Le Monde Gourmand MarieAnna Ferdinand, EVP of fragrance development at Le Monde Gourmand, tells me over email that they are seeing year-on-year growth in gourmand fragrance launches. She attributes this to the fact that consumers are tapping into this olfactive profile as they seek comfort in an uncertain political and economic environment. 'Consumers are looking for glimmers of joy that they can experience every day. Gourmand perfumes often tap into a feeling of nostalgia for happier times, like childhood, a favorite memory, but done in a grown-up way,' she says. A good example of this is their Chai Epice perfume, a grown-up gourmand inspired by a comforting chai latte. Ellis Brooklyn, founder of Bee Shapiro, concurs and tells me over email that gourmand fragrances satisfy two of our deepest wants right now: comfort and joy. We tend to feel familiar with these scents because they contain notes that we easily recognize, and they are also joyful, as gourmand fragrances tend to be playful. 'They play on the high-low aspect of perfumery.' This summer, gourmand scents evoke a holiday feel, with increasingly modern fragrances. Ellis Brooklyn's MIAMI NECTAR, for instance, is a tropical formula. 'I love the combination of pink pineapple, watery facets of coconut water with the moss and vanilla underpinning,' says Bee. It's an intense fragrance that is sweet, sophisticated and very contemporary. Another tropical gourmand is Ormonde Jayne's Montabaco Rio, which combines notes of sun-ripened wild fruits, zesty pineapple, and sweet mango with moss, amber, vanilla, and suede, resulting in a vital fragrance perfect for summer. This is a particularly unisex fragrance, as the subtle sweet notes merge beautifully with the amber, making it a strong scent. Ormonde Jayne Montalbanco Rio Jun Lim, founder and creative director of BORNTOSTANDOUT, also tells me that those bright, beachy, borderline edible scents will be stealing the show this summer, as they're both refreshing and mouth-watering. 'Think creamy coconut and sunny citrus blended with gourmand touches, like a twist of salted vanilla, creamy milk, or a hit of tarte tatin. It's as if sunscreen got gourmet," he says. Sugar Addict, a hero fragrance from BORNTOSTANDOUT, encapsulates this summer spirit in a complex scent that has both depth and freshness, simultaneously. Kayali Cherry gourmand fragrance Kayali is another example of summer gourmands. Their Lovefest Burning Cherry is enchanting, and combines succulent cherries, raspberries and sweet caramelized praline with contrasting smoky, earthy notes of palo santo, guaiac wood, and patchouli, making the fragrance unusually sensual. Kayali's Vanilla is another example of a captivating fragrance that opens with a sweet infusion of naturally sourced Madagascan vanilla orchid and creamy jasmine, combined with notes of brown sugar, amber woods, musk, and patchouli, making it a particularly versatile and memorable scent in the collection. The gourmand fragrance category itself has been around since the early '90s, when perfumes such as Thierry Mugler's Angel were first launched, but the new, updated gourmands are different. Speaking to Aitana López de Carrión, global fine fragrance development manager, over Zoom, we discuss how nuts, salted caramel, cocoa, honey, and milk are all ingredients that are rising in popularity, as are bakery-inspired notes, with fragrances that evoke desserts like banana split, crème brûlée, tiramisu or cinnamon rolls, many of which are going viral on platforms such as TikTok. The rise of 'neo-gourmands' scents, however, goes beyond traditional sweet notes and incorporates savory elements, bitter touches or umami flavors, inviting us to explore global culinary cultures. Aitana explains that this year we will continue to see scents inspired by liquors and cocktails. Éclat d'Ombre by Maison Psyche Maison Psyché—the luxury perfume house from the Rémy Cointreau group—fits into this new trend with its unique approach to fragrance: aging perfume essences inside Cognac barrels to create scents of unparalleled depth and complexity. Éclat d'Ombre, crafted by Master Perfumer Sophie Labbé and Rémy Martin Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau, embodies this new technique and captures the essence of Cognac's historic cellars. Bee Shapiro tells me that several years back, gourmand perfumes were directed to a younger demographic, but today that has completely changed. 'Today gourmands are for everyone—gourmands have also evolved quite a bit. Sure, there are the cake-like scents, but there are a wide variety of vanillas for every scent taste,' she says. Jun Lim agrees and adds that gone are the days of candy-sweet celebrity perfumes. He tells me that today's gourmands have broken many old boundaries: they're unisex, multicultural, and global, and if you don't take yourself too seriously, you can enjoy a gourmand at any age. 'It's less about age or gender, more about your vibe,' he tells me. In his words, the gourmand genre is growing up. 'Think of it as the gourmand palette expanding beyond just 'sugar' into a whole experimental kitchen,' he says, and cites many new flavours including buttered popcorn, salted caramel, BBQ sauce, or even touches of cheese or truffle, which are making their way into fragrances. 'Consumers' noses have gotten more sophisticated; they still love sweet, but they want it with a twist. So you'll get a floral marshmallow with a hit of pepper, or a chocolate scent infused with shiso leaf. Neo-gourmand is all about contrast and surprise.' Sugar Addict BORNTOSTANDOUT As we have seen with other fragrance trends, layering scents to further personalise them is very much in vogue. Bee explained to me that all fragrances can be layered, but with gourmands, if they are focused on a few very specific opening notes, the process is easier. Vanilla and caramel tend to be warm and cozy, and sweet fruits with vanilla tend to be more candy-like and summery. 'You can easily add on different fruits via different fragrances, for example,' Bee says. When I asked Jun Lim about layering these scents he told me that in today's fragrance scene, it's actually encouraged and that perfume lovers are becoming their own mixologists. 'You can take a rich chocolatey scent and layer a smoky cedar or sheer musk over it to tone down the sweetness and add depth. And suddenly you've got a sexy s'mores vibe going on,' says Jun. The key is to have fun, experiment with different notes, and spray with confidence. With the gourmand trend underway, whether you enjoy sweet or savory perfumes, the world now really is your oyster.
Fox Sports
07-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Why Jon Rahm doesn't consider himself the Patrick Mahomes of golf — yet
MIAMI — I wanted Jon Rahm to say he is the best golfer in the world. But he wouldn't. "That's a loaded question," he said, throwing back his head for a laugh. "That's a loaded question." Ahead of LIV Golf Miami, we were sitting in a quiet room on the second floor of Trump National Doral Hotel. Above the crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and teal-blue pools of the palatial hotel, Rahm began to think about what a major championship is worth, about what the world's best golfer's résumé should look like and about how he expects the golf world to measure his career when he's done. "You're gauged so much in those major championships, right?" Rahm told FOX Sports. "All of the sudden, people started caring about what I said [after the U.S. Open win in 2021]." By the end of the weekend, he would finish tied for ninth (+1). He has never finished outside the top 10 in any of his 17 LIV appearances. Even with all those top-10 finishes, Rahm doesn't seem satisfied with his two individual wins in LIV when compared to his league rival, Joaquin Niemann, who has four individual championships over the same span. "I think a lot of people would rather have the hardware than the statistics," Rahm said when asked about his run of top-10 finishes. And perhaps that's why he laughed at my "loaded question." Because he felt like it was off base. With all that consistency, Rahm indicated his game isn't where he wants it to be. "I haven't been playing to the level of comfort I would like to be playing at," Rahm said. "There's been times this last year and a half that I've possibly been playing worse than my scores have showed — just because I've been able to post good scores and manage the game a little bit better." That sounds … harsh. "I'm being extremely critical," Rahm said with a chuckle. "I think my swing is not as fluid as I would like. I think there's been a little bit too much thought throughout the process, and that's because of other factors related to the game. We don't have enough time for me to get into everything. … I'm not 100 percent confident on how the shot I have in mind is going to come out, because I was battling a few things — swing thoughts. It's a bit of a flow state that's been a little disrupted." It's the lofty standard he's holding himself to, because it's the standard that's required for winning the majors. That's right, it's major season. The Masters begin in a matter of days. And the LIV superstar will head to Augusta to challenge his league-mates in Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka and his PGA rivals in Scottie Scheffler and Rory McElroy, among others. Rahm won't get away with the quality of play that he's been getting by on. Not if he wants to win. "You get a player of that caliber talking about that part of his game," said David Feherty, retired golfer and LIV broadcaster. "[Rahm] is like a V8 engine. There's one cylinder not quite f---ing working. You got that lumpy [feeling] sitting there on the 500 horsepower. You know he's not firing on all cylinders, but you can hear him coming. It's only a matter of time with him before he wins again." *** It started in 2023. People started introducing him as "Jon Rahm, Masters champion." Rahm told me that he wanted to remind those people: "And U.S. Open champion." Clearly, not all majors are created equal. But just like an M.D. for a doctor, a major win attaches itself to a golfer's name. And that major win legitimizes a player's career. It's why some bristled at the suggestion that Rahm's league-mate, Niemann, isn't yet in the conversation as the best player in the world. Phil Mickelson said Niemann is the best in the world . Others aren't so sure. The Chilean has yet to finish in the top 15 at a major — let alone win one. Niemann is wrestling with major pressure. When I asked Rahm to go back and remember when he was in Niemann's shoes, Rahm said he didn't feel the pressure to win one — nor did he feel a major sense of relief upon winning. Because he didn't view himself any differently. Others did. "It almost felt like I got validation from the public and even maybe the media. It's like all of a sudden what I was saying in interviews actually mattered more than before, when I never changed my answer. It was really weird. It was like I had a … new level of credibility, which is quite interesting," he said. "But I also understand that, right? It's almost like you have to prove yourself as a major champion. Even though internally you may know you're good enough, you still have to do it." He added: "OK finally, seal of approval. Go on." So … what's next? He considered which major he'd like to win next. Briefly, he considered what it might be like to win the PGA Championship — no Spaniard has ever won the PGA — but there's another major he'd like more. "The more I think about it right now, getting the second Green Jacket would mean so much in the sense of tying Seve [Ballesteros] and Ollie [José María Olazábal]," Rahm told FOX Sports. "And then getting to three majors would make me third in the Spanish all-time list. That would be pretty big as well." The more Rahm discussed the state of his swing and the distance he feels he is from first place, the more I sensed an urgency in his mindset. He's 30 years old and he's tasted champagne in a Green Jacket. But once clearly isn't enough. He's dying to sit in striking distance on a major Sunday again. Heck, he's dying to even be a stroke or two off the winner on a major Sunday. It's all about those moments of greatness. "Those pressure moments are what you live for," Rahm said. "You've gotta put yourself there though." It's almost like he is referencing his performance at LIV Riyadh, when he just barely eked out a tie for second (-15) but wasn't in true contention against the top-finisher, Niemann (-17). In a post-tournament presser in Riyadh, Rahm seemed disappointed in his performance — or perhaps unimpressed with himself, as he was ahead of LIV Miami. And at the National, his performance was more of the same. He was briefly in first place in the final round on Sunday, but a few bad holes knocked him out of contention. It seems like that goes back to the way he's eking out these strong finishes, without the same swagger. But then it's also a bit of the Ricky Bobby slogan: If you're not first, you're last. "When you play [in those pressure moments], you cherish them when you're done playing," Rahm said. "Yeah, it's the most memorable thing. If you're going to go football-wise, you remember those games that are a one-score game. And you see it go back and forth, right? And you have those AFC Championships between the Chiefs and the Bills. You remember because they all seem to be a one-score game. And you remember the end." Win or lose, the close finishes are the ones you never forget. While we're on the topic of football, I asked Rahm whether there is a quarterback he likens himself to. He is, after all, the captain of Legion XIII. In many ways, he's the quarterback, the leader and the most influential member of the team's success. Rahm toiled with a fair comparison. Why? Well, he kept making clear that it's all about championships. Patrick Mahomes, for example, felt like a lofty comparison, because the Kansas City Chiefs QB is drawing comparisons to the GOAT, Tom Brady. To be in the conversation as one of the greatest? Rahm doesn't think he's there yet. "Mahomes is a much better football player career-wise than I have [been] so far as a golfer," he said. "When you being compared to the greatest of all time this early, I haven't accomplished enough to be compared anywhere close to that." So who's it going to be? "Somebody that's always been really consistent and really good — personality aside — maybe Drew Brees. Also going to say Brett Favre, personality aside," Rahm said. "Or Josh Allen, just because he's still young and he can get a win as well." I like the Brees comparison. He won a Super Bowl. With a quick release, Brees was a master of the short (or quick) game — but that wasn't the only thing he did well. With a shortened backswing, Rahm has pinpoint accuracy that blends nicely with his aggressive shot choice. Brees and Rahm are both surgeons of their games. But if there's any comparison we should be making, it's to a Formula 1 driver. After all, that has been LIV's goal: position the league's team-format events like Formula 1 . So which F1 driver does Rahm feel he compares most closely with? That actually made for a more difficult comparison — again, because of championships and wins. He kept saying he didn't want to compare himself to Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen, who has 63 wins and four driver championships. "A young Fernando [Alonso]," Rahm said. And then he succumbed to the comparison he tried to avoid. "Or Max. Just because of how aggressive they are with no fear," he said. "Accomplishments aside." Again, I wanted Jon Rahm to say he is the best golfer in the world. He wouldn't. But what he did tell me is that he has the mentality to be the best golfer in the world. That's why he likened himself to a young Alonso and Verstappen. At this phase in Rahm's career, it's about building his legacy. This weekend, he'll get the chance to make sure people introduce him as a two-time Masters champion. And then he can interject and say: And three-time major winner. Prior to joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Get more from LIV Golf Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
The Hill
21-02-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Refugees and their sponsors feel stuck after halt to programs letting communities resettle newcomers
MIAMI (AP) — Refugees had been arriving in the United States at levels unseen in nearly three decades, assisted by nonprofits and ordinary people across the political spectrum. More than 160,000 Americans across every state signed up to resettle newcomers through the Welcome Corps, a public-private effort launched two years ago. More than 800,000 new arrivals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Ukraine and Afghanistan were also welcomed with help from financial supporters through a legal tool known as humanitarian parole. That screeched to a halt after President Donald Trump's inauguration and his administration's immediate 90-day suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program — a move that stranded thousands of vetted refugees, cut nonprofits' staffing and left sponsors uneasy about the future of fledgling programs they felt had enriched their own lives. Rivly Breus is among those feeling anxious. Working from a pastel peach house in South Florida, the crisis counselor has backed the resettlement of more than 30 people from Haiti, Ukraine and Cuba. She wanted to show them how to 'thrive,' she said, rather than 'being in survival mode all the time.' 'It's also left us in limbo because we're not able to answer some of the questions that our sponsees have,' Breus said. 'We're not able to give them the encouragement that we usually do, or the hope.' New approaches New sponsorship pathways increased U.S. resettlement capacity in recent years. Humanitarian parole had been applied for seven decades towards migrants unable to use standard routes. The Biden administration expanded it for Ukrainians and with another program known as CHNV allowing up to 30,000 monthly entrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. Migrants needed to clear security checks and have U.S.-based financial supporters. The intention was to dissuade illegal border crossings by providing two-year work authorizations, though they weren't a path to citizenship. The State Department allowed private sponsors to ease refugees' transition through the Welcome Corps beginning in January 2023. Groups of five or more sponsors had to secure at least $2,425 per refugee and commit to planning transportation, housing, education and employment. They could match with pre-approved applicants or name a specific refugee. 'Private sponsorship means we're not asking a government or the taxpayer to fund this,' Ed Shapiro, a leading Welcome Corps funder, said in an email. 'We're saying, 'Let us do this for our citizens, religious organizations, businesses and universities who want (or in some cases, need) to do this.'' More than 9,000 sponsors have welcomed over 4,500 refugees since the program's first arrivals in June 2023. The nonprofit platform launched to help refugees identify sponsors. Private philanthropists and established a fund to overcome financial barriers. The idea was that sponsor circles could provide instant social capital and aid assimilation in a more meaningful way than government case workers. 'It was an initiative that I think was really energizing for folks,' said Marissa Tirona, president of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees. '(For) everyday folks, neighbors, communities to establish more welcoming localities across the United States.' Proponents pitched sponsorship as an intimate form of service that enabled ordinary people to supplement the resettlement agencies' work and take an active role in reshaping their communities. However, the Department of Homeland Security now says its predecessors abused humanitarian parole. When asked about Welcome Corps, a State Department spokesperson said Secretary of State Marco Rubio is ensuring all foreign assistance programs are 'efficient and consistent' with the 'America First' 'Every dollar we spend, every program we fund, and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?' Rubio said in a statement. A 'stepping stone' in Miami Breus keeps busy helping. When she's not meeting patients or filling out grant applications in the afternoons for the antipoverty nonprofit, the Erzule Paul Foundation, where she runs operations, Breus said she enjoys taking new arrivals on outings around Miami like this winter's photo session with a mall Santa. Her mother helps. They jumped at the opportunity to be a 'stepping stone,' according to Breus. She said ten foundation employees formed a 'sponsor circle' and created an online profile that prospective migrants could browse. They indicated how many people they could sponsor and what resources they could offer. Together, the sponsors help with transportation, interpretation, job applications and school enrollment. 'Just the basics to help get them off their feet,' Breus said. The experience was rewarding enough that Breus used to help Ukrainians resettle, but she says it has been pretty 'shaky' lately. She's been attending webinars so she can best advise her 'sponsees,' some of whom are exploring moves to other countries. Among them is Flor, who studied psychology in Haiti and works part time as an overnight stocker while taking English language classes. Flor asked to be identified only by her nickname because she fears deportation. Flor had hoped her 5-year-old daughter, still in Haiti, might join her with Breus' help. 'This week, with the news, I don't even have the courage when I'm talking to her to look at her because I feel like I'm failing her,' she said Jan. 23 through a Creole-language interpreter. From Utah to Pennsylvania, sponsors scramble After frantically trying to expedite applications, sponsors are now sitting with growing uncertainty. Provoked by the urgency of their refugees' circumstances, some participants are lobbying lawmakers to uphold initiatives they say have broad appeal and praying they meet the unexplained 'case-by-case' basis on which arrivals are now allowed. Clydie Wakefield, 72, flew to D.C. this month. The retired teacher, who described herself as 'conservative leaning but open,' began sponsoring an Afghan family after virtually tutoring their sister in English. She thought her representatives' offices might help obtain an exception for the woman and her siblings. Wakefield said she's not a 'mover and shaker.' She just wanted to follow her Mormon faith's calling to 'give comfort to those in need of comfort.' She'd spent the holiday season finding housing and making final arrangements. Bedding and other necessities bought by her church community sit in a storage unit. The family was maybe one month away from flying over when Wakefield said the executive order hit. 'It was really discouraging. But she just keeps hoping,' Wakefield said. 'And I'm inspired by her. I'm going to continue to hope.' Chuck Pugh, 78, said he felt 'increasing pressure' to get an Afghan arrival's parents, three sisters and two brothers from Pakistan to the Philadelphia area. A political independent, Pugh said he gathered a bipartisan Welcome Corps group last July, including a Trump supporter. The family underwent an hours-long interview at the U.S. embassy in Islamabad, he said, and reported for medical checks in November. He raised all the money required to cover post-arrival expenses for the seven-person family. They redoubled their efforts this January because he felt they were 'so very close.' Pugh said he can't afford to give up — though he expects the family will be stuck for the near future. 'If we can be at the airport to welcome this family, that would really be one of the greatest days of my life,' Pugh said. ___ Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit
