Refugees in America

Should the United States accept refugees?

Since its earliest days as part of the United States, Iowa has a long history of being a destination for those from other countries to find a new home. Such newcomers are called immigrants. A special class of those are people fleeing wars, persecution or other dangers from their former homes. These immigrants are termed "refugees." Like the larger class of immigrants, Iowa has confronted both the challenges and opportunities of accepting new arrivals as permanent residents.

Early Refugees in the United States

In the 19th century, there were few restrictions on traveling to America. While most Mormons were not from foreign countries, thousands of Latter Day Saints made their way across southern Iowa when they were forced out of their homes in Nauvoo, Illinois, following the assassination of their leader Joseph Smith. Most did not stay but continued their trek across the Great Plains to Utah. During the same years, many German families were arriving in the Mississippi River towns of Davenport, Clinton and Dubuque. Conservative governments in the German states were threatening those who had participated in revolutions or who advocated for greater democracy. In response, many migrated to the Midwest and created strong pockets of German culture. Irish families facing starvation when the potato beetle destroyed the staple of the Irish diet arrived in Iowa to start new lives. Religious and political persecution in the Netherlands and Hungary also led to refugee flights to Iowa.

Poverty and persecution continued to propel European populations to seek new homes. Until the end of the 19th century, most immigrants to Iowa had come from northern European countries, especially Germany, Ireland, Scandinavia and the British Isles. However, in the 1890s and for some 30 years after, southern and eastern Europe immigration rapidly increased. Because free or cheap lands had already been settled, most of these arrivals headed for the cities in the eastern states. While they might not have been under immediate threats, poverty and the lack of opportunity had motivated them to seek new homes. In Iowa, Czechs, Italians, Croats, Welsh, British and Swedes entered the coal mines.

Post-WWI Displaced Persons

A new term emerged in the American vocabulary following World War I: "Displaced Persons." The DPS, as they were called, had been in the path of invading armies, sometimes facing starvation when crops or other livelihoods were destroyed. Americans welcomed some, but there were those who feared that the numbers of newcomers were changing the face of the nation. In 1923, a Federal Immigration Act put strict quotas on the numbers of immigrants from southern and eastern European countries and barred Asian and other non-white races from entering the country.

In the 1960s, civil wars and other disruptions forced many to flee their homes. In the early 1970s, Iowa Governor Robert Ray took a courageous stand to begin a resettlement program for Vietnamese and Laotian families who had been caught up in those nations' conflicts. He encouraged churches and other social agencies to sponsor refugee families and help them learn the language and culture and get jobs. Bosnian refugees to Iowa later received local assistance when they needed to get away from genocides in their homelands as did refugees from several African countries.

Present-Day Immigration Debate

In most of the cases above, the refugees arrived through legal channels established by Congress. The immigrant problem of today centers around those who cross America's borders illegally and sometimes live here for years without proper identification. Many have fled poverty or violence, especially from Mexico and Central America, and have applied as refugees. A particular problem concerns those whose parents brought them here as children and the United States is the only country they have ever known. Should they be allowed to remain or does that encourage others to challenge immigration restrictions? As long as the United States becomes a target for those seeking a better life, the nation will have to establish laws for who can live here, whether as immigrants or refugees.

Supporting Questions

How has America helped refugees in the past?

What has been Americans' attitude towards refugees?

What are the possible risks associated with helping refugees?