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Social Work Speaks Abstracts

Immigrants and Refugees

At various times throughout its history, immigration policy in the United States has expressed protectionist, exclusionary, and humanitarian impulses. Policies have been liberalized, only to turn again towards exclusion. The profession of social work is concerned with immigration policies because they affect the lives of clients and the well-being of people within and beyond our borders. NASW supports immigration and refugee policies that uphold and support equity and human rights, while protecting national security. The social work profession recognizes that the challenge of competing claims is formidable; however, immigration policies must promote social justice and avoid racism and discrimination or profiling on the basis of race, religion, country of origin, gender, or other grounds. NASW has a special interest in the impact of refugee and immigration policies on families and children and supports policies that encourage family reunification and ensure that children do not grow up unduly disadvantaged by the immigration status of their parents.