Chapter 5 Flashcards
(10 cards)
What major U.S. law in 1965 first acknowledged refugees in immigration policy?
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 1965 introduced “conditional entry” for certain refugees, though only those fleeing communism or the Middle East, reflecting Cold War politics rather than humanitarian standards.
What did the Refugee Act of 1980 establish?
It created a formal, consistent definition of a refugee under U.S. law, aligning with international standards and defining a refugee as someone unable or unwilling to return to their country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of it.
What role did Doris Meissner play in shaping refugee policy?
As deputy associate attorney general in the Carter administration, Meissner coordinated development of the Refugee Act and managed refugee and asylum policy during the Mariel boatlift crisis.
What surprising event occurred shortly after the Refugee Act was passed in 1980?
The Mariel boatlift began, with over 125,000 Cubans—many released from prisons and psychiatric institutions by Castro—arriving in Florida over six months, overwhelming U.S. authorities.
Why couldn’t the U.S. deport many of the Cubans who arrived during the Mariel boatlift?
Fidel Castro refused to take them back, and many Marielitos arrived without identification or documentation, complicating efforts to process or return them.
What unintended consequence did the Refugee Act create during the Mariel crisis?
It enshrined asylum as a legal right, but the volume and unpredictability of asylum seekers challenged the system’s ability to maintain control over immigration processes.
How did the U.S. government respond logistically to the flood of Mariel arrivals?
FEMA and INS set up makeshift camps in Key West, a northern air force base, the Miami Orange Bowl, and a blimp hangar in Opa-locka to house and process the new arrivals.
What political impact did the Mariel boatlift have on Bill Clinton’s career?
As Arkansas governor, Clinton faced backlash for housing Marielitos at Fort Chaffee. Riots and public fear contributed to his reelection loss in 1980—his only electoral defeat.
How did the Marielitos become politicized in the U.S. cultural imagination?
They were often depicted as criminals, and this stereotype was reinforced in popular culture—most famously in the film Scarface, where Al Pacino played a violent Cuban immigrant.
What long-term memory did the Mariel crisis leave in U.S. immigration policy circles?
It became a cautionary tale; during later Cuban refugee waves in the 1990s, White House officials invoked “Remember Fort Chaffee” to avoid repeating the chaos of 1980.
