Week 9. Immigration paper[1]

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Georgia State University *

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U.S. HISTO

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History

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Feb 20, 2024

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Ashtari 1 Moein Ashtari HIST 2110 Professor Rostamian 22 March 2023 Research Question: Why has the number of refugees been restricted drastically since the 1980s? Refugees and their families have been an integral part of American culture, but since the 1980s, changes in immigration laws have led to a significant decline in the number of refugees admitted to the United States. This has raised the question of why the number of refugees has been substantially reduced since the 1980s. The reasons behind this decline are multifaceted, encompassing various political and social forces. Changes in immigration laws, concerns about security, and a shift in the country's attitude towards refugees prioritizing economic and political benefits over humanitarian crises have contributed to this situation. (Mann, 2006) Two primary sources that support this thesis statement are the Refugee Act of 1980 and the Immigration Act of 1990. The Refugee Act established a process for accepting refugees into the United States, while the Immigration Act increased legal immigration. However, despite these changes, the US

Ashtari 2 government's actions have ultimately resulted in a significant reduction in the number of refugees admitted to the country. The government has implemented more stringent security measures and screening procedures, which have made it more difficult for refugees to gain entry. Additionally, the government has shifted its focus toward prioritizing economic and political benefits over humanitarian crises, which has led to a decreased emphasis on refugee admissions (Martin, 2010; Mann, 2006). Two secondary sources that provide insight into this topic are David Fitzgerald's "Refuge beyond Reach: How Rich Democracies Repel Asylum Seekers" and Susan F. Martin's "The Paradox of US Refugee Policy: A Bureaucratic and Political Dilemma." Fitzgerald argues that wealthy democracies like the US have laws in place that discourage asylum seekers from seeking asylum, despite their legal obligation to do so. This has contributed to the decline in refugee admissions (Fitzgerald, 2009). On the other hand, Martin argues that the US government's inconsistency in its refugee policy has emerged due to its bureaucratic structure and political divisions. Although the United States has a history of accepting refugees, doing so has become increasingly difficult due to political restrictions and bureaucratic procedures (Martin, 2010).

Ashtari 3 Furthermore, the rise of xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment has also contributed to the decrease in refugee admissions. Many people believe that refugees pose a security threat to the country, and therefore, there is a need to limit their numbers. However, this argument fails to recognize that refugees are often fleeing persecution, violence, and other forms of harm in their home countries. By denying them the opportunity to seek asylum in the US, the government is effectively turning its back on those who are most in need of protection (Bhandari, 2017). In the face of these challenges, it is crucial that the US government work towards creating policies that balance the need for security with the need to provide assistance to those who are most in need of protection. One possible solution would be to streamline the refugee screening process while still ensuring that security measures are in place. Additionally, there should be more emphasis on educating the public about the positive contributions that refugees make to American society. By doing so, it may be possible to shift the discourse surrounding refugees and increase public support for admitting them into the country. In conclusion, the decline in refugee admissions in the United States has been driven by a combination of factors, including changes in immigration laws, security concerns, a shift in the country's attitude towards refugees,

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Ashtari 4 and rising xenophobia. While some may argue that the reduction in admissions is necessary for national security, it is important to remember that many refugees are in desperate need of protection. Therefore, it is crucial that the US government work towards creating policies that balance the need for security with the need to provide assistance to those who are most in need of protection. Works Cited FitzGerald, David Scott. “How Rich Democracies Repel Asylum Seekers.” Academic.oup.com, 2019. https://academic.oup.com/book/25655 . Mann, Charles C. “New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus.” Amazon. Scholastic, Inc., 2009. https://www.amazon.com/1491-Revelations-Americas-Before-Columbus/dp/ 1400032059 . Martin, Susan F. “The Paradox of US Refugee Policy: A Bureaucratic and Political Dilemma.” Academic.oup.com, June 1, 2005. https://academic.oup.com/jrs/article-abstract/18/2/239/1547836? redirectedFrom=fulltext#no-access-message . Bhandari, Esha. “The Trump Administration Is Threatening to Publicly Release the Private Data of Immigrants and Foreign Visitors: ACLU.” American Civil Liberties Union, February 27, 2023. https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/trump-administration- threatening-publicly-release-private-data-immigrants . 1 1 David Scott FitzGerald, “How Rich Democracies Repel Asylum Seekers,” Academic.oup.com, 2019, https://academic.oup.com/book/25655 . Charles C. Mann, “New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus,” Amazon (Scholastic, Inc., 2009), https://www.amazon.com/1491-Revelations-Americas-Before-Columbus/dp/1400032059 . Susan F. Martin, “The Paradox of US Refugee Policy: A Bureaucratic and Political Dilemma,” Academic.oup.com, June 1, 2005, https://academic.oup.com/jrs/article-abstract/18/2/239/1547836?redirectedFrom=fulltext#no-

Ashtari 5 access-message . Esha Bhandari, “The Trump Administration Is Threatening to Publicly Release the Private Data of Immigrants and Foreign Visitors: ACLU,” American Civil Liberties Union, February 27, 2023, https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy- technology/trump-administration-threatening-publicly-release-private-data-immigrants .

Week 9. Immigration paper[1]

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