Resettlement especially here in the United States at the time of these stories was extremely corrupt on a national level. The idea of resettlement was to allow refugees (at the time war refugees from the Pol Pot regime) resettled to the United States as a form of asylum. Rather training these refugees for a future in the united states and subsequent citizenship, instead they were subjected to the harsh conditions in poor housing. Neighborhoods that were run with crime and poverty stricken, and the intense scrutiny of law enforcement such as discriminatory stop and frisking and detainment. These justice system lead to many minors convicted as adults spending majority of their later adolescence/early adult years as felons. Youth lacked structure and with no basic understanding of the United States justice system often turned to crime and street violence as a response. These refugees are also not advocated for. The only voice they have are themselves. This was especially shown in Ra’s case when she described how resettling in the Bronx, although there was an extremely large Cambodian community, there was so representation of their existence including any advocation for them. The criminalization and impact of immigration of SE were also severe and unjust. Crimes committed years ago and time served are ignored. Deportation was made a law mandate meaning many SE refugees who committed crimes and even served time were subjected to mandatory deportation to country of origin. This also includes those who came to the United States an infant. Immigration itself is political but seeing the corruption at the local level and the lack of advocacy at the national level is disheartening but not surprising. Being made aware that as a country, we have gone to the extent of denying refugees entrance who come from communist countries (since America was on a mission of anti-communism rhetoric) just shows in itself how ethnocentric we are as a society-again at the National level. My main question is while things can be done with state legislation and learning about advocacy groups, what can be done on the local level to prevent corruption in the system? For example, the discrimination many Cambodian and Vietnamese immigrants experienced from law enforcement? My other question is more rhetorical. As a country, the structures, laws, and way we operate is in part because of immigrants. Immigrations helps this country’s economy and social acceptance of societies outside ours. At the national level, why (at the time) why wasn’t there a legal system established to both advocate for refugees that resettled here and helping them integrate into American society?
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