Introduction
Refugees and ordinary migrants are people who enter and settle permanently in foreign countries. When people move across international borders to go and live in other countries, they move to reside in the given countries as immigrants. They can also be called refugees or asylum seekers. It is a requirement by the international laws of the United Nations on refugees that refugees should be formally recognized by the immigrant countries.
The immigrant countries should grant and approve visas to the refugees to allow them to live in them according to the laws on refugees. The laws on refugees were formed to curb illegal entry of refugees into any given country because of security and economic reasons.
Sometimes, refugees do not have to necessarily move from their countries of origin to other countries to qualify as refugees. People who move from one part of their country to another can also be called refugees in some sense. Such people are referred to as internally displaced persons (IDPS).
The intention of this study is to highlight the similarities and the differences that exist between refugees and ordinary immigrants. The study also indicates how both the refugees and ordinary immigrants face issues of trans-nationalism and assimilation.
Similarities and differences between refugees and immigrants
Refugees and ordinary immigrants normally move from their native countries to settle in different countries. Refugees relocate from their countries as a result of persecution by their mother governments or insurgents. Circumstances like civil war and religious conflicts instill fear to people prompting them to flee from their countries into others.
Such relocations by the refugees are involuntary and are informed by the prevailing circumstances of insecurity. An example was the civil war in Rwanda between the Hutus and the Tutsis which led to genocide in the early 1990s.The ethnic war led to the flight of many Rwandeses from their native country Rwanda to the neighboring countries in the East African region.
Once the refugees are in the immigrant countries, they are provided with basic necessities such as food, shelter and education. To some extent, they are also given financial aid. The immigrant governments have special agencies that look in to the welfare of the refugees. The UNHCR is an international body whose mandate is to coordinate all the affairs of refugees globally.
Ordinary immigrants on the other hand, relocate from their countries voluntarily. The urge to seek for better social and economic prospects inspires some people to personally choose to relocate to countries in which such prospects are easily attainable.
Currently, more people from developing countries especially in Africa are voluntarily relocating to developed countries to seek for employment. In addition, during the Great Depression in the 1930s that caused a severe economic decline in the US, most Americans migrated from USA to Europe. The need for family members to join others who live in different countries persuades them to relocate.
Assimilation and Tran nationalism
Refugees and ordinary immigrants are assimilated to the immigrant countries. In USA, a refugee can work and seek for permanent working status. They can also start businesses. Through the American Cultural Assimilation Policy, immigrants to the United States of America get absorbed into the American culture and gradually the distinction between the immigrants and the citizens of America becomes unrecognizable.
The refugees and ordinary immigrants are also able to maintain social and economic ties between themselves and natives in the immigrant countries. Jews who are scattered all over Asia, Europe and America still maintain social connections with their native country of origin, Israel.
Conclusion
The number of refugees in the world today has declined marginally. This is as a result of the decline of political, social and religious conflicts. A lot of effort should also be made to improve the economic status of each country. This will reduce the number of ordinary immigrants and refugees.