"Don't close the door on refugees."
Voice of America
(English language news service)
December 27, 2002
U.S public opinion regarding immigration supportive even after the
9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, but according to a study by
the Alexis de Tocqueville Institution, policy-makers in Washington
may be less confident about America's "open door."
"Refugee admissions to the U.S. have declined more than 30 percent
since 9/11," notes a research paper by institution researcher
Shivane Patel. "This follows a 20-year decline in the share of
the U.S. immigration pie granted to refugees since the 1970s.
AdTI's research, at its web site, www.adti.net, notes a number of
positive economic and cultural impacts of immigrants and refugees,
from the high-tech industry to property values.
Patel says U.S. leaders should take steps to make sure that "all
forms of immigration -- including refugee admissions -- remain strong,
and return to healthy levels in 2003."
