Seeking refuge in the U.S.

• Position: GRAPH: INTERNATIONAL

As the article "Is Change Finally Coming to Cuba?" reports, longtime Cuban leader Fidel Castro recently acknowledged that his nation's Communist system "doesn't even work for us anymore." Since Castro seized power in 1959, more than a million Cubans have fled to the United States. But as the graph shows, Cuba is only one of the many sources of refugees seeking freedom and a better life in the U.S. In the past decade, many have fled from persecution in Africa, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

ANALYZE THE GRAPH

(1) In 2005, 6,400 Cuban refugees made it to the U.S.

It was the highest annual total for the decade, accounting for about --, of the decade's Cuban refugees.

a one half

b one third

c one fourth

d one fifth

(2) In 2009, the largest number of refugees--18,800--were from Iraq. About how many Iraqi refugees came to the U.S. from 2000 to 2008?

a 28,000

b 22,000

c 18,000

d 12,000

(3) In 2000 and 2001, the U.S. accepted 33,600 refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina-slightly more than the number of refugees who came from -- during the entire decade.

a Iraq

b Iran

c Cuba

d Russia

(4) Between 2000 and 2009, about 154,000 refugees came to the U.S. from Africa. This graph shows about what percentage of African refugees to the U.S.?

a 40

b 55

c 65

d 80

(5) The number of refugees from Iraq and Afghanistan during the decade is about twice that of refugees from

a Liberia

b Iran

c Vietnam

d Ethiopia

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(1) Of the roughly 530,000 refugees who arrived in the U.S. from 2000 to 2009, about 210,000 were Asian. Which countries shown on the graph are Asian countries? Why might so many refugees have come from these countries?

(2) What is a refugee? What is the difference between a refugee and an immigrant? What...