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War and conflict dominate immigration stories. Wars displace people, resulting in refugees and asylum seekers fleeing conflict zones and their aftermaths. World War II, in particular, led to a significant increase in diversity in Montgomery County as the U.S. government opened its borders to a broader range of nationalities and stateless people with many ad hoc policies such as the War Brides Act of 1945, Fiancées Act of 1946, Displaced Persons Act of 1948, Refugee Relief Act of 1953, Hungarian Refugee Act of 1956, and the Refugee-Escapee Act of 1957.
War and conflict dominate immigration stories. Wars displace people, resulting in refugees and asylum seekers fleeing conflict zones and their aftermaths. World War II, in particular, led to a significant increase in diversity in Montgomery County as the U.S. government opened its borders to a broader range of nationalities and stateless people with many ad hoc policies such as the War Brides Act of 1945, Fiancées Act of 1946, Displaced Persons Act of 1948, Refugee Relief Act of 1953, Hungarian Refugee Act of 1956, and the Refugee-Escapee Act of 1957.
Tanks in Coreno, Italy, one hour after its fall, May 14, 1944 (National Archives: "Photographs of American Military Activities, between ca. 1918–ca. 1981." Photo by Rooney, 163rd Signal Photo Company)
The rise in political instability following World War II as the world headed into the Cold War Era saw an increase in displaced peoples. The Cold War and the United States’ goal of stemming the rising tide of Communism created upheavals globally. The U.S. introduced new legislation on immigration in 1965, the Hart-Celler Immigration and Nationality Act, to meet the needs of the rising waves of immigrants from around the world. From 1945 to 1965, the world saw the end of World War II; the beginning of the Cold War; the Korean War; civil wars and other violence in Greece, China, Costa Rica, Laos, Guatemala, Nicaragua, North Yemen, and the Dominican Republic; and revolutions in Egypt, Cuba, and Hungary. Additional conflicts such as the Arab-Israeli, Vietnamese, and Eritrean wars also began during this time period.
The rise in political instability following World War II as the world headed into the Cold War Era saw an increase in displaced peoples. The Cold War and the United States’ goal of stemming the rising tide of Communism created upheavals globally. The U.S. introduced new legislation on immigration in 1965, the Hart-Celler Immigration and Nationality Act, to meet the needs of the rising waves of immigrants from around the world. From 1945 to 1965, the world saw the end of World War II; the beginning of the Cold War; the Korean War; civil wars and other violence in Greece, China, Costa Rica, Laos, Guatemala, Nicaragua, North Yemen, and the Dominican Republic; and revolutions in Egypt, Cuba, and Hungary. Additional conflicts such as the Arab-Israeli, Vietnamese, and Eritrean wars also began during this time period.
According to the United Nations, in 2023, more than 103 million people are refugees that have been forcibly displaced by conflict or persecution. In recent years, the U.S. has offered safety to refugees fleeing conflicts from the following countries, listed in order of largest to fewest number of refugees: Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan, Iraq, El Salvador, Eritrea, Iran, Somalia, Pakistan, Burundi, South Sudan, Honduras, Moldova, Ethiopia, Guatemala, and others. Many refugees from these countries reside in Montgomery County today.
Explore the following stories on the theme of war and conflict as an impetus for immigration:
Explore the following stories on the theme of war and conflict as an impetus for immigration:
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