U.S. IMMIGRATION

Under the U.S.Immigration and Nationality Act (USINA) of 1980 a refugee is a [person] who, generally, has experienced past persecution or has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Individuals who met this definition were considered for refugee status. That definition also applied to those who were already in the United States. Since the passage of the Refugee Act the United States has admitted more than 3.1 million refugees.

 

Prior to USINA refugee admissions in 1945 hundreds of thousands of refugees who suffered from Nazi persecution were admitted from European countries.

 

In 1948 the Displaced Persons Act allowed millions of refugees from China and Eastern European countries to be admitted with the only criteria being they declare they were anti-communist.

 

In 1975 over 400,000 East Asians we admitted without any screening.

 

In 2017 Donald Trump imposed a “Muslim Ban” which was struck down by the courts because it discriminated on the basis of nationality. Then in 2019 he created an immigration cap of 15,000 refugees who could meet the USINA screening criteria.

 

In 2022 Joe Biden increased the USINA ceiling to 125,000 refugees which was not met due to a shortage of judges and staff. President Biden also made a effort to reunite over 1000 families torn apart during the Trump deportation policy.

 

On January 20,2025 Donald Trump has now slammed the door on any refugees who meet the USINA standard and totally suspended refugee resettlement in America.

 

In 1914 my grandfather came to America from Poland on a forged visa to avoid persecution. It was not until 1938 that he became a Naturalized Citizen. Were it not for him I would not be here.

 

We are a nation of immigrants. Knowing where we have come from and knowing where we are going is important.

 

On the Statue of Liberty we say.  “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.”