Most immigrants arrive in the United States hav-ing planned their journey. Often they know in advance where they will initially live and work when they arrive, and many can rely on family, friends, and compatriots to cushion their transition. In short, most immigrants have made choices about their future. Refugees arrive under very different circumstances. Forced out of their home countries, often living in transitional quarters like temporary camps or housing in foreign countries, they often experience fear and uncertainty as they make their way to a safe place. Some refugees are uprooted from their home communities due to war, violence, and political conflict, as in Vietnam, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Others have experienced ethnic strife or religious persecution like the Albanians and Sudanese. The nature of their departure is unlike the path taken by the majority of contemporary immigrants to the United States and holds broad implications for their economic and social integration. Similar to other immigrants in the United States, refugees possess a wide range of experiences and skills, and some are more accustomed to American life than others. Some refugees have work or language experience applicable to the US labor market, but many do not. Some refugees are admitted to the United States because they have relatives already present, but many have no social ties nor any experience with US institutions before they arrive.

The United States has a long history of providing safe haven for those escaping oppression and war. US refugee policy has always been interconnected with foreign policy, most explicitly during the Cold War. Public opinion, pressure from congressional advocates, and media exposure to refugee situations can also influence