American Immigrants, Migrants, & Refugees  / Optional (Choose 2)

Being an immigrant, migrant, or refugee within any country is a difficult and challenging journey. Safety, health, and basic resources are incredibly hard to access without the necessary supports. Many immigrants, migrants, and refugees have fled their home countries because of growing violence or economic insecurity. We must work to support and aid our most vulnerable populations.

The Oxford Dictionary (2024) defines each term:

• Immigrant: “a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country”
• Migrant: “a person who moves from one place to another, especially in order to find work or better living conditions”
• Refugee: “a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster”

Watch this video to learn more about immigration stories from a multitude of voices.

Watch this video to hear a story about a young person’s immigration story to the U.S. from Guatemala.

Directions: Choose 2 articles to read.

Dana, Daniel. “‘A Long Road to Go’: How Afghan Refugees Are Adjusting to Life in US After Fall of Kabul 2 Years Ago.” ABC News, 12 Aug. 2023.

Gunderson, Erica. “As Tensions Run High at Police Station Migrant Shelters, Volunteers Speak Out on Shelter Conditions.” PBS News, 16. Sept. 2023.

Jones, Nicholas; Marks, Rachel; Ramirez, Roberto; Rios-Vargas, Merarys. “Improved Race and Ethnicity Measures Reveal U.S. Population is Much More Multiracial.” census.gov, 12 Aug. 2021.

Nguyen, Vu. “Overcoming Language Barriers and Cultural Shock: How to Adapt to a New Life in the United States Quickly for New Immigrants?” Normandale Diaspora Project, nccdisapora.com. Accessed on 10 Nov. 2023.

Panetta, Alexander. “Scenes from an American Migration Crisis.” cbc.ca, CBC News, 30 April 2023.