The Link Between Immigration and Refugees

As 2012 gives way to a new year, Vox Culture has put its focus on 2013 and begun focusing on the social causes that will be addressed throughout the year. The first trimester will focus on the issue of Immigration.

Addressing the issue of Immigration after closing out 2012’s third trimester with the issue of Refugees is a great leeway, given that both of these issues – while different – have similarities as well. Therefore, as an introduction to our new trimester on Immigration, this blog will seek to address how the issue of Refugees and Immigration are interconnected.

First however, we should distinguish what Immigration is versus what is a Refugee. Immigration is the movement of individuals into a country or region to which they are not originally from, in order to settle there. There are numerous reasons why people immigrate, such as environment, economy, political, family re-unification, poverty, as well as other reasons. Refugees are individuals who are forced to leave their country of origin or habitual residence because they have suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or due to their belonging of a persecuted 'social group'.

The fact that being an immigrant involves, for the most part, voluntary movement while refugees may move involuntarily or be forced to do so, is one of the most important differences that lie between these two terms. However, this difference is still a very thin line where numerous similarities continue to exist as well.

One example that can be provided as to how the line may be blurred between refugees and immigration comes from my personal experience from moving from what was then the former Yugoslavia. Many people coming from areas directly affected by the decade-long breakup, whether they are from Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo, identified themselves as refugees on the basis of persecution due to their religion, ethnicity, political opinion, and more. Many others from these same places, in addition to Slovenia, Macedonia (FYROM), Montenegro, as well as Serbia, left during the same period of war, voluntarily, identifying themselves as immigrants and not refugees. In addition to economic reasons, these individuals voluntarily left for political reasons (or political opinion), as well as to find a new beginning where they would not have to be affected by the then on-going war or possibly face persecution. In brief, this example shows that immigrants and refugees may be faced with the same situation and/or event, and affected by the same issues. The difference between the two groups emerges based on each individual and how they choose to identify themselves based on personal experiences in a situation. In this example, individuals who directly experienced persecution and the experience of war will likely identify themselves as refugees. Those who may not have yet experienced persecution but acknowledged that they lived in a dangerous situation where they could possibly be persecuted down the line may have chosen to leave voluntarily for a safer and better place, and identify themselves as immigrants.

Immigrants and refugees have a good deal in common in other aspects as well, especially when it comes to their overall experience in living in host countries such as the United States. They share multiple experiences such as learning about new cultures and languages. They might also face open discrimination or other forms of hostilities as ethnic minorities, regardless of their immigration status. Other similarities may in some cases pertain to living standards, economic status, and their overall living experience.

While immigrants and refugees might share many personal experiences in common and may be affected by many of the same situations, the greatest difference fundamentally lies at the core. Yes, based on their definitions, similarities can be found between the issue of Refugees and Immigration. However, the greatest and most important difference that distinguishes both these issues is the individuals that make up each of these groups. It is up to them, and ONLY them, to choose how they perceive themselves based off their own experiences… as a refugee or as an immigrant.