A Comparison of the Migration and Settlement Experiences of Refugees and Voluntary Migrants
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The Tangled Paths to Safety: A Comparison of the Migration and Settlement Experiences of Refugees and Voluntary Migrants DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Christopher Allen Owens, MA Graduate Program in Rural Sociology The Ohio State University 2013 Dissertation Committee: Cathy A. Rakowski, PhD. (Advisor) Linda Lobao, PhD. Joseph Donnermeyer, PhD. Copyrighted by Christopher A. Owens 2013 Abstract Until recently, the research on refugee populations has been part of migration studies, with little distinction made between the two populations. The focus of research has always been on the movement rather than the motivations behind the movement. It has been generally assumed that refugees would make the same overall choices that immigrants make upon arrival in their areas of destination. Yet as this study establishes, the experiences of refugees are radically different from those of voluntary migrants, and refugees do not typically have the advantage of choosing their destinations. This research begins from the perspective that the essential difference between refugees and immigrants is the aspect of choice. Theoretically at least, an immigrant has a choice whether or not to migrate, while the refugee has no such option. A voluntary immigrant at least has the option of staying where they are without suffering any penalties (beyond opportunity costs) for this action, while refugees must move or face serious consequences. This research establishes refugees as a distinct sub-group within the greater population of international immigrants. This allows a finer level of detail in future research and allow policy makers to tailor their programs to better meet the needs of their target constituents. ii The first set of questions this research addresses is, “What are the differences in the characteristics of refugees as compared to voluntary migrants?” The next question is, “In what aspects do refugees differ from voluntary migrants and what does this mean for employment prospects, assimilation or multiculturalism, spatial distribution, community development, programmatic needs, and policy making?” This set of questions will be analyzed using the quantitative methods applied to the data provided by the 2003 New Immigrant Survey (NIS), conducted by Princeton University. The next research question will be “What effects do these differences have on the experiences of refugees in their host country (the U.S.)?” This question deals with the key issues that interest researchers of immigration: how the differences between refugees and immigrants manifest themselves in their actions and living situations. This research will begin to explain the effect refugee status has on an immigrant’s ability to utilize their human capital in the host country. Human capital for this study will be measured by years of education and work experience in the home nation. Finally, this study investigates the detailed experiences of refugees as they have undergone the process of displacement and resettlement in the United States. This stage of research will also focus on the strategies and resources utilized by refugees in overcoming the barriers they confront during this process. This stage of the research process will focus exclusively on qualitative interviews of Somali refugees and key informants living and working in central Ohio. iii Dedication: This is dedicated to my sister, Kathleen Robinette, whom I miss dearly and wish could have seen me finally graduate. iv Acknowledgements: I would like to thank my parents for all the support they have given me on my far- too long scholastic journey. Additionally, I owe a great deal to my friend and former boss, Tara Narcross, who gave me confidence to go back to school. I’d also like to thank my Advisor Cathy Rakowski for all the assistance and patience she has shown through these years. She and the other Rural Sociology faculty, JoeDonnermeyer, PhD., LindaLobao, PhD., BillFlinn, PhD., and Jeff Sharp, PhD, have been incredibly supportive of me in adapting to life as doctoral student and helping me to succeed in this endeavor. Finally I would like to extend my gratitude to all of the members of the Somali Community, who taught me so much about their nation and their experiences here in Columbus. v Vita September 1987 ........................................... RHAM High School, Hebron, CT 1991 ............................................................ B.A. International Relations, College of ………………………………………………Wooster 1996 ............................................................ M.A. International Affairs, Ohio University 2004 to 2008 ................................................ Graduate Teaching Associate, HCRD, The Ohio State University 2008 to present ............................................ Adjunct Instructor Columbus State CC Fields of Study Major Field: Rural Sociology vi Table of Contents Abstract .......................................................................................................................... ii Dedication: .................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements: ........................................................................................................v Vita ............................................................................................................................... vi Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... vii List of Tables............................................................................................................... xiii Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................1 Research Question: ......................................................................................................1 Dissertation Chapter Overview.....................................................................................9 Chapter 2: Theory and Literature Review ...................................................................... 13 Immigration Theory: .................................................................................................. 13 “Initiation” Theories of Migration .......................................................................... 15 Refugee Theory and Research ................................................................................ 32 Quantitative Studies of Refugee Populations: ......................................................... 47 All Roads Lead to Bourdieu ................................................................................... 51 vii Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 55 Chapter 3: Immigration and Refugee Resettlement ........................................................ 60 in the United States ........................................................................................................ 60 Immigration to the United States: 1776 to the Present ................................................ 61 General Migration Policy of the United States Today ................................................. 64 Refugees in America .................................................................................................. 66 International Refugee Process .................................................................................... 68 The Refugee Process .................................................................................................. 71 Chapter 4: Quantitative Analysis of Refugee and Voluntary Migrant Populations ......... 81 Theoretical Framework .............................................................................................. 81 Personal Differences ............................................................................................... 81 Process Differences ................................................................................................ 83 Network differences ............................................................................................... 85 Dataset ....................................................................................................................... 86 Research Hypotheses and Methods ............................................................................ 88 Hypothesis 1 ........................................................................................................... 88 Hypothesis 2: Refugee and Voluntary Migrant Outcomes in the US ..................... 105 Refugee and Voluntary Migrant Profiles .................................................................. 122 Conclusions and Discussion: .................................................................................... 129 viii Critiques and Limitations...................................................................................... 134 Chapter 5: Background on Somalis, Somalia, and the Somali Diaspora........................ 136 Somali Culture ......................................................................................................... 136 Early Somali History ................................................................................................ 140 Colonial Partition ....................................................................................................