Discusses the policy recommendations of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) concerning immigrants and refugees. This policy statement summarizes current immigration policy in the United States, the history of immigration reform, and recent reforms that address humanitarian protection of refugees fleeing violence and extreme persecution. Social workers need to concern themselves with such critical issues as human rights and civil liberties violations, anti-immigrant violence and fear, discrimination in employment based on national origin or citizenship status, and federal, state, or local initiatives that would deny public benefits to immigrants or refugees. Federal immigration policies and procedures should embrace such principles as: (1) voluntary repatriation of refugees by the U.S. only if this would not place returning refugees at risk; (2) streamlined application procedures for asylum and a more expeditious adjudication process; (3) a plan to ensure health, education, and socialservices benefits to refugees, regardless of immigration status; (4) a plan to combat racism and immigration-related employment discrimination; and (5) opposition to efforts to limit education benefits for children of undocumented individuals. Social workers must continue to insist that due process and fundamental human rights be upheld for immigrants and refugees.
