Displaced Persons and the Reshaping of American Immigration after World War II

David W. Haines is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at George Mason University, USA. He is the author of: Safe Haven: A History of Refugees in America, Immigration Structures and Immigrant Lives: An Introduction to the U.S. Experience, and Adaptations, Structures, Meanings: An Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology.

“A fascinating and readable book on how the U.S., in a time of highly restrictive immigration policies, opened its doors to several hundred thousand displaced persons from Europe after World War II. In analyzing the complex interplay of factors involved, Haines raises important questions of relevance to refugee debates in America today.”Nancy Foner, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Sociology, Hunter College and Graduate Center, City University of New York“Haines offers us a rich, original, and deeply researched analysis of the history of America’s treatment of displaced persons in the aftermath of World War II. There is much to learn in the story Haines tells of the gradual evolution from denial, through delay, to resettlement. Understanding this legacy is of particular importance in the current moment as we consider our humanitarian obligations to those displaced by famine, violence, or persecution.”Caroline B. Brettell, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology Emerita, Southern Methodist University“David Haines’s new book on the creation of the Displaced Persons Act provides a nuanced overview of the forces impacting 20th century U.S. refugee policy, particularly the tensions between those who envisioned America as a place of refuge and those who sought to delay action on refugee issues. It will be a crucial text for students and scholars alike in the field.”Kristen Anderson, Professor of History, Webster University

• Introduction. Part I: Uncovering. Chapter 1: January 1945. Chapter 2: Witnessing. Chapter 3: A Report and Some Action. Chapter 4: Repatriation and Non-Repatriation. Part II: Stalling. Chapter 5: Another New Year. Chapter 6: Looking for Labor. Chapter 7: The Jewish Question. Chapter 8: Fighting for a Larger Program. Chapter 9: In the Camps. Part III: Resettling. Chapter 10: Implementing a Flawed Law. Chapter 11: Fixing a Flawed Law: The House Version. Chapter 12: Fixing a Flawed Law: The Senate Version. Chapter 13: A New Kind of Program. Chapter 14: North Dakota, Minnesota, and Mississippi. Chapter 15: California, Illinois, and New York. Chapter 16: Wrapping Up.