America and the Displaced Persons (1945-1950)

FAIN: FT-13496-77

Leonard Dinnerstein
Arizona Board of Regents (Tucson, AZ 85721-0073)

To study American handling of the millions of refugees in Europe after World War II. With the Displaced Persons Act of 1948, special consideration was given to the needs of stateless refugees fleeing political or religious persecution. The steps leading to passage of this bill involved an intricate interplay of domestic pressure politics, diplomatic relations, and modification of existing immigration laws. At the same time, the process of formulating the policy revealed the contradictory nature of American rhetoric and American attitudes toward immigrant and minority groups.