Chp 4 study

Indochinese Refugee Migration to the U.S.

1. Differences Between the Two Waves of Indochinese Refugee Migration:

• First Wave (1975-1980):

  • Context: Resulted from the fall of Saigon in 1975 after the Vietnam War, leading to refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

  • Profile: Primarily refugees fleeing communism and political persecution, including ethnic Chinese, Hmong, and Vietnamese people. This wave was heavily government-sponsored, with refugees initially placed in camps in Southeast Asia and then relocated to the U.S.

• Second Wave (1980s):

  • Context: Continued effects of the Vietnam War, with a large number of refugees escaping the ongoing turmoil in Southeast Asia.

  • Profile: The second wave was more diverse, with a mix of economic migrants, ethnic minorities, and those escaping persecution.

  • Key Differences: The second wave involved more self-settlement and community building, as opposed to the highly controlled and government-managed resettlement of the first wave.

2. State Strategy in the Early 1980s Due to Low Approval Rates:

• Initially, state officials used a "stealth" approach in refugee resettlement to avoid widespread public backlash. Local officials strategically dispersed refugees to less populated areas (like the Midwest) and smaller communities to avoid overwhelming already established populations.

• VOLAGS (Voluntary Agencies): Played a crucial role in providing support, housing, and integration services to refugees. These agencies were funded by the government but operated independently.

3. Formation of Refugee Communities by the 1990s (Secondary and Chain Migration):

• Secondary Migration: Refugees, after settling in initial states, often moved to places with existing refugee populations (secondary migration) in search of better economic opportunities, family support, or familiar ethnic communities.

• Chain Migration: This phenomenon allowed refugees to sponsor family members to join them in the U.S., creating tight-knit communities. By the 1990s, these networks helped refugees build their own communities in urban areas (e.g., Vietnamese communities in California).

Key Terms:

• Indochina Immigration and Refugee Act 1975: Legislation that facilitated refugee resettlement after the Vietnam War.

• Refugee Act of 1980: Standardized the process of refugee resettlement in the U.S.

• VOLAGS: Voluntary agencies helping refugees.

• Secondary Migration: Movement of refugees to other areas after initial settlement.

• Chain Migration: Process where immigrants sponsor family members to join them.

• Proxy Wars: Conflicts during the Cold War where the U.S. and USSR supported opposing sides in regional wars, leading to instability in Southeast Asia.

• Patron-Client Regimes: Systems where local elites offer protection in exchange for loyalty, a major factor in the instability of Southeast Asian nations.

• Containment: U.S. foreign policy aimed at preventing the spread of communism, often leading to military intervention and refugee crises.

Globalization and Asian American Immigration

1. Global Restructuring of the U.S. Economy by the Mid-1970s:

• Deindustrialization: The U.S. experienced a decline in manufacturing and industrial jobs, which were outsourced to other countries.

• Transition to Service Economy: The economy shifted from manufacturing to service industries (finance, technology, healthcare, etc.).

• Causes of Transition: Technological advances, international competition, and rising labor costs contributed to deindustrialization and the rise of the service economy.

2. Push Factors for Increased Korean Immigration in the 1980s:

• Political Instability: Economic instability and political repression under military dictatorship in South Korea during the 1970s-1980s.

• Economic Opportunities in the U.S.: Availability of labor opportunities and educational advancements for families.

3. South Asian Immigration and Economic Globalization:

• Economic Globalization: South Asia became more integrated into the global economy, with significant migration from India and Pakistan due to the demand for skilled workers, particularly in information technology and engineering fields.

• H1B Visa Workers: Many South Asian immigrants arrived as highly skilled laborers through the H1B visa program in the 1990s.

4. Transnationalism and Dual Incorporation:

• Transnationalism: Refers to the process by which immigrants maintain connections with their home countries, engaging in social, economic, and political activities across borders.

• Dual Incorporation: Immigrants participate simultaneously in both their home and host societies (e.g., sending remittances home while building lives in the U.S.).

• Comparison to Pre-Globalization Immigrants: Before globalization, immigrants were more likely to be "settlers" who integrated into the host society more fully, without maintaining strong connections to their home countries.

• Example: Filipino nurses working in the U.S. while sending remittances back home, maintaining strong familial ties in the Philippines.

5. Transnational Families:

• Types of Transnational Families:

  1. Dual-Career Families: Both parents may be working in different countries, one in the U.S. and one in the home country.

  2. Split Families: One or more family members (usually the father or mother) are in the U.S. for better economic opportunities, while others remain in the home country.

• Impacts on Immigration Patterns: Economic globalization allows families to maintain multiple residences across countries.

Contemporary Issues in Asian America

1. Agency vs. Structural Factors:

• Agency: Refers to the ability of individuals to make choices and take actions independently of their environment.

• Structural Factors: Refers to social, economic, and political forces that shape individuals' opportunities and choices (e.g., racial discrimination, socioeconomic status).

2. The "Model Minority" Image and Its Harmful Effects:

• The "model minority" stereotype depicts Asian Americans as highly successful, particularly in education and income.

• Harmful effects:

  • Racial Tensions: It can perpetuate racial hierarchies, portraying Asian Americans as an example of "success" and implying that other minority groups should follow suit.

  • Pressure: It leads to unrealistic expectations for Asian American students and professionals.

  • Invisibility of Struggles: It hides the socioeconomic challenges faced by lower-income Asian American communities (e.g., Southeast Asian refugees).

3. The Problem of "Asian Culture" and Educational Attainment:

• Citing "Asian culture" as the sole reason for educational success oversimplifies the issue and ignores:

  • Ethnic Variability: Not all Asian American groups experience the same level of success; socioeconomic background plays a larger role.

  • Immigrant Status: New immigrants may face different challenges and barriers than those who have been in the U.S. for generations.

4. The Glass Ceiling and Asian American Professionals:

• Glass Ceiling: Refers to the barriers that prevent Asian Americans, particularly in professional fields, from advancing to senior leadership positions.

• Hidden Issues in Income Data: High income statistics may hide the fact that many Asian Americans work in fields where they face barriers to promotion, despite being well-educated.

5. Deindustrialization, Globalization, and the Formation of Monterey Park (LA):

• As industries closed down and the service economy grew, immigrant groups (especially from Taiwan and China) settled in areas like Monterey Park.

• The rise of the professional-managerial class (educated immigrants in white-collar jobs) led to the development of ethnoburbs—suburban ethnic enclaves.

6. US Colonialism, the Navy, and Filipino Communities in San Diego:

• U.S. colonialism in the Philippines (1898-1946) and the presence of U.S. Navy bases in San Diego led to the establishment of Filipino American communities in the area. Many Filipino immigrants arrived as laborers and sailors.

7. The Problem of Panethnicity in Asian American Identity:

• Panethnicity: Refers to the grouping of distinct ethnic groups under the umbrella term "Asian American."

• The problem is that it oversimplifies the vast cultural, linguistic, and historical differences between various Asian groups (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, etc.), often erasing the unique struggles and needs of each group.