Introduction: The History of Managing Forced Migration in the U.S.: Political Climate and Global Events

The United States has a history of providing refuge for those fleeing oppression and war; however, each wave of refugees is met with a complex set of political, security, and administrative contexts. This chapter provides historical background about forced migrants in the United States to gain insight into the current resettlement policies and integration approach in this volume. It traces the forced migrant movement into the United States in light of the political climate and global events. It revitalizes the discussion on considering the U.S. refugee policy a foreign policy that is an echo of the U.S.’s interest in the world. The chapter traces the pre- and post-World War II refugee waves and the Cold War communist containment doctrine. It tells about the aftermath of the Vietnam War and the urgent need resulting from the refugee crisis of Vietnamese and Cambodians to manage their situation through standardized and transparent policy. Alongside this, it illustrates the intertwinement of federal immigration acts and refugee acts throughout history. The chapter concludes with the realpolitik of the third millennium and the movement of people in search of security, liberty, fairness, and opportunities for a better life.