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Refugees in
Idaho
Idaho
entered the
refugee
resettlement
arena in
1975 when
Governor
John Evans
established
the
Indochinese
Refugee
Assistance
Program in
response to
the need for
all states
to
participate
in the
resettlement
of refugees
fleeing the
overthrow of
U.S.
supported
governments
in Southeast
Asia. While
the
resettlement
effort
initially
focused on
refugees
from
Vietnam,
Cambodia and
Laos, it
soon
expanded in
scope to
include
Eastern
European
refugees
fleeing
oppressive
regimes of
the Soviet
era. Over
the years,
the refugee
groups
resettling
in Idaho
have changed
and become
remarkably
diverse, but
the
essential
resettlement
experience
has remained
constant
throughout.
What is the Essential Resettlement Experience?
The
refugee’s
journey is
long,
arduous and
fraught with
danger.
The
culmination
of this
journey—for
those
fortunate
enough to
complete
it—is
arrival in
the
community
designated
for
resettlement.
This is
often a
dramatic,
emotional
and
life-changing
event.
Refugees and
their
families who
are afforded
the
opportunity
to begin a
new life in
Boise or
Twin Falls
find
themselves
in a safe
and secure
community
where they
begin a
difficult
adjustment
process.
Among the
many
challenges
of becoming
Americans
are the need
to develop
new language
and work
skills, to
find jobs
that support
their
families and
to manage
newfound
opportunity
and freedom.
Eventually,
refugees
become
integrated
into Idaho
life,
participating
in and
contributing
to the
social,
economic,
educational
and
political
mosaic.
Who are Refugees in Idaho?
Refugees
come from
all walks of
life, from
many regions
of the
world. A
large
majority of
Refugees
arriving in
Idaho are
women and
children.
Some
refugees are
highly
educated
while others
have never
had the
opportunity
to attend
school.
Some were
freedom
fighters or
political
activists
forced into
exile from
their home
countries;
others were
violently
driven away
because they
were of the
“wrong”
ethnicity or
held
religious
beliefs that
threatened
those in
power; still
others have
been
targeted and
subjected to
horrific
acts because
of their
ties to the
U.S.
government.
Every
refugee
resettled in
Idaho has a
personal
story of
persecution,
escape and
survival.
1980’s: Refugees arriving in Idaho during the decade of the
1980’s were
primarily
Southeast
Asian and
Eastern
European.
Those coming
from
Vietnam,
Laos and
Cambodia
were part of
the ongoing
exodus from
the
Communist
domination
of those
countries.
At the same
time,
refugees
from
Soviet-dominated
Czechoslovakia,
Poland,
Hungary,
Romania and
Bulgaria
were being
resettled in
increasing
numbers.
U.S. refugee
policy in
the 1980’s
was
undeniable
linked to
vital
foreign
policy
interests
and the Cold
War struggle
between East
and West.
By the
latter half
of the
1980’s,
these groups
were joined
by an
increasing
number of
refugees
arriving
from the
Soviet
Union,
primarily
Russians and
Ukrainians,
many of whom
were
evangelical
Christians
oppressed
for many
decades
because of
their
religious
convictions.
Groups from Southeast Asia
·
“Boat
People”
·
Amerasians
·
Re-Education
Camp
Detainees
·
Hmong and
Lowland Lao
·
Cambodians
from the
“Killing
Fields”
Groups from Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union
·
Political
Dissidents
·
Oppressed
Workers
(Solidarity
Movement in
Poland)
·
Persecuted
Christians
and Jews
from the
Soviet Union
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