As the war in Iran continues, experts note that it may -- among other things -- exacerbate movement among refugees and migrants into neighboring European countries.
“So far, relatively few people have left Iran—the vast majority of those displaced remain in the country. But as the war continues and the situation becomes more tenuous—in addition to the strikes themselves, things like the destruction of civilian infrastructure—more and more people will assess whether to leave,” Norman said.
The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has raised new questions about the future of Iran’s government and what it could mean for millions of people inside the country. Some see it as a turning point, but Norman and fellow experts caution that the fall of one leader does not automatically mean meaningful change — or immediate improvement — for the Iranian people. If political change does come, the transition could be turbulent, Norman said.
“Usually it leads to chaos and instability. So, in the short to medium term, regime change could result in something like a civil war or political and economic turmoil.”
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has long been tasked with identifying and apprehending undocumented immigrants. However, as the agency's center of activity shifts from the border with Mexico to the heart of US cities, federal agents' encounters have turned deadly and been met by protests, public accountability and monitoring campaigns, and heightened tensions on the streets.
"A lot of these militarized practices have existed within immigration enforcement. It's just that they were being deployed in the border where they weren’t necessarily getting the kind of public attention that they are now," said Kelsey Norman, director of the Women’s Rights, Human Rights, and Refugees Program at the Baker Institute for Public Policy in the US.
“From the refugees’ perspective, there’s a lot of worry and hesitation, and I can see why. They worry about confidentiality, and they worry about certain nationalities not being treated the same as others,” Norman said (subscription required to access article).
Norman is quoted in Brazilian outlet Outras Palavras on the long history of Palestinian displacement and Israel’s animosity toward the UNRWA.