How race and religion have always played a role in who gets refuge in the US

As noted on this blog, the treatment of persons fleeing Ukraine is not the same as how nations have treated other groups on refugees.  Consistent with that observation, Laura E. Alexander, Jane Hong,  Karen Hooge Michalka, and Mary Luis A. Romero for the Conversation contend that “race and religion have always played a role in who gets refuge in the US.”   The authors note that

“[t]he different treatment of Ukrainian versus Central American, African, Haitian and other asylum seekers has prompted criticism that the administration is enforcing immigration policies in racist ways, favoring white, European, mostly Christian refugees over other groups.

This issue is not new. As scholars of religion, race, immigration, and racial and religious politics in the United States, we study both historical and current immigration policy. We argue that U.S. refugee and asylum policy has long been racially and religiously discriminatory in practice.”

Check out the article above for details.

KJ