Refugee In America

When the politics of non-entrée collide with the principle of non-refoulement
Idil Atak Introduction
Under traditional international law, States have a sovereign right to allow or refuse entrance of foreigners on their territory, to impose conditions to their entry, and to expel them from their territory. In accordance with their duty to protect the lives and the security of the public, States also have a legitimate interest in controlling irregular migration[1]. States are devoting more and more energy and resources outside their national territory, in order to prevent, interrupt or stop the movement of persons without the required documentation crossing international borders by land, air or sea, and making their way to the country
It has been estimated that about 10.5 million are refugees in the world.[1] Refugees is a person who “owing to well-founded fear for being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country”.[2] Refugees are a product of conflict and insecurity situation. Economic scarcity, destruction or damage of houses and property and human rights violation were some of major factors that contribute to refugee generation. From time immemorial, people have been forced to move out of their home in large numbers often in a state of total destitution and seek refuge elsewhere, particularly to India. Almost every countries in the South Asia region has either produced refugees or received them and in some cases done both. India has been a major refugee receiving country of the region. It hosts refugees’ from Tibet, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh Afghanistan and Myanmar. Besides, it has been taking care of stupendous tasks of relief and resettlement of the refugees in fair manner in accordance with international standards. Each major outbreak of conflict between the different ethnic groups of the country or between the security forces and militant groups produced displacement of
The outburst of ethnic riots in 1977 resulted in displacement of Sri Lankans Tamils. However, the ‘landmark’ event that made ‘displacement’ a permanent feature and a common problem of Sri Lanka was, the communal violence, targeted mainly at the Tamils living in the Sinhalese-majority areas that occurred in July 1983. As a result confrontations between the government security forces and the Tamil militants intensified there was an immensely increased outflow of Tamil refugees due to threats, raids and reprisal attacks and forced eviction both by government forces as well as by the militant groups for ‘strategic’ reasons’. Since then there have been several waves of refugee movement to India. Since 1999 the number of registered refugees has been around 66,000 refugees[9] in 130 refugee camps in Tamil Nadu and two in Orissa. On arrival the Sri Lankan refugees are sent to camps in various places in Tamil Nadu. The assistance provided to the refugees in the camps consisted of an emergency relief parcel, which contained clothes, blankets, cooking utensils (each family is provided a set of utensils every two years), and small cash allowances[10]. Later ration card are provided so that they can purchase essential commodities at fair price shops. The Government of India has so far spent more than 200 crore (Indian) rupees on providing relief facilities to the Sri Lankan refugees.[11]