1 min
U.S. historian and immigration expert on Afghan refugees in the U.S.
Paul Kramer, associate professor of history, is available for commentary on the arrival of Afghan refugees in the U.S. Paul is an expert in the history of immigration and related policies in the U.S. and can discuss: Historical parallels: The U.S. has a long history of opening up its refugee admissions to its allies in context of geopolitical conflict, especially during the Cold War, and a history of tension and ambivalence about refugee admissions, sometimes fearing refugees are spies for U.S. opponents, largely due to discrimination based on race and religion The rationale: The move is partly out of a sense of moral obligation, and partly out of strategic interest (if the U.S. doesn't admit refugees who helped the county abroad, it undermines U.S. foreign policy) Pros and cons: The upside is that many vulnerable people can escape immediate harm (theoretically), and the downside is that many of these vulnerable people who are not seen as U.S. allies can get shut out for foreign policy reasons
