Analyzing Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy in Lancaster City and Hazleton PA
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2020
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Haverford College. Department of Political Science
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Thesis
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Award
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eng
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Abstract
In America today it is perceived that big coastal cities are places of refuge for immigrants and refugees. National policies are targeting marginalized groups so it would make sense to think that big coastal cities, under the leadership of more progressive mayors, would be a safe haven. Whereas places in rural America are thought to be hostile to immigrants and refugee. But instead there are many smaller cities in red areas that are taking in high numbers of both immigrants and refugees. The BBC reported that Lancaster, one of the cities that I will study, brought in 20 times more refugees per capita than any other city in the United States (Strasser, 2017). Hazleton, the other city I will study saw a significant rise of immigrants from 2000 to 2010. The Standard Speaker, Hazleton's local paper, reported that in 2010 23.8 percent of Hazleton's population was counted as Hispanic, four times higher than in 2000 (Staub, 2010). Both of these small, rural, and Pennsylvanian cities are in counties that Donald Trump won in 2016. This thesis is addressing two research questions. The first one is: Why are small and rural cities more friendly to immigrants and refugees? For this research question I will be looking at two case studies: Lancaster City and Hazleton, PA. I will be using census data, newspaper articles, and a few interviews. Hopefully this research will show why these two cities are welcoming refugees and immigrants and will push other small cities to be more welcoming. Lancaster City and Hazleton are prospering right now so it was clearly the right choice for these cities. Why shouldn't other smaller cities do the same? As mentioned before both of these cities are in red counties. Why are these cities defying their county norm and being welcoming to refugees and immigrants? We will see that Lancaster City has a historical precedent for being welcoming. But the city is also aging and provides affordable housing and good paying jobs for immigrants and refugees. Hazleton made national headlines after trying to implement unconstitutional anti-immigrant laws. Immigrants continued to flock to Hazleton regardless of these laws because of the job opportunities and affordable housing that Hazleton provided. Coming from Gateway cities like New York City and Philadelphia Hazleton was their shot of owning a home, the American dream. My second research question is: What do cities do after immigrants and refugees arrive: What is the most effective way to help? I will, again, be looking at two case studies for this question, Lancaster City and Hazleton. For this research question I will be looking at newspaper articles and interviews. It is not enough to be welcoming to immigrants and refugees. Once they get here the city needs to react and make the city work for them. Are advocacy groups in Lancaster City and Hazleton getting things accomplished? If they are then other cities can look to these cities and take their strategies. These cities being in red counties brings up another problem. If the cities are welcoming immigrants and refugees to their city, but then cutting resources and benefits will that really be in the best interest for immigrants and refugees moving there? While I originally thought that Lancaster City would provide better results from advocacy it will be shown that Hazleton was more successful at organizing and producing change. This thesis will shed light on why smaller cities are being welcoming to refugees and immigrants and how these cities react to advocacy from these groups. If more and more cities across the United States would be more welcoming it would be for the benefit of their individual city. Smaller and more rural cities across America are seeing their populations decrease. If these cities are attractive to immigrants and refugees they can see their populations rise and their cities flourish once again. More importantly, these immigrants and refugees need to be able to hold their elected officials accountable and get policies passed that would help them prosper. Cities across America, not just gateway cities, are welcoming immigrants and refugees in and it is an important new area of research. These small cities are seeing examples of successful advocacy that also needs to be researched more fully. Hopefully much more research will come in the future.