Cambodian immigrants
Cambodian immigrants are individuals from Cambodia who relocated to the United States, particularly during the late 1970s and early 1980s, fleeing the political turmoil and violence brought about by the Khmer Rouge regime. This group is part of a broader wave of Southeast Asian refugees seeking safety and stability after experiencing severe hardships, including the genocide that resulted in the deaths of millions. Many Cambodians initially sought refuge in Thailand, where they faced challenging conditions in refugee camps before being resettled in the U.S.
Upon arrival, Cambodian immigrants encountered significant difficulties, including economic challenges and opposition from some segments of the American population, partly fueled by prevailing economic issues and racial biases. The U.S. government established resettlement programs to assist these newcomers, but many Cambodian immigrants found themselves in low-wage jobs, often struggling to achieve economic stability. Despite these challenges, they have established vibrant communities, primarily in California and Massachusetts, contributing to the cultural mosaic of American society. Over the years, the Cambodian-American population has evolved, with the 2020 U.S. Census indicating that approximately 339,000 individuals of Cambodian descent live in the U.S., maintaining a close connection to their heritage while navigating their new environment.
Subject Terms
Cambodian immigrants
SIGNIFICANCE: The arrival of thousands of Southeast Asian immigrants during the mid-to-late 1970s marked a new era in immigration to the United States (US) because of multiple factors. One of the characteristics that defined this new era was the region from which these new immigrants were coming. A second trait of this new era was that the arrival of these immigrants created a strong, adverse reaction among Americans against them. Furthermore, the arrival of these immigrants led to new legislation regarding their status.
The first major influx of Cambodian immigrants who began arriving in the US during the late 1970s was part of a large group of refugees from Southeast Asia fleeing political instability in their homelands. The most unstable Southeast Asian nation may have been Cambodia. In 1975, the Khmer Rouge came to power in that country and implemented an extreme version of agricultural-based communism. The new government may have killed as many as two million Cambodians in its attempt to reshape society. As a result, thousands of Cambodians fled the country. Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia in 1979 intensified the exodus.
A Long Journey and Unwelcoming Arrival
Many of the Cambodian refugees initially fled to neighboring Thailand. There, they were put in refugee camps, in which they endured poor conditions. Although some Cambodians remained in Thailand, thousands eventually were permitted to come to the US at the beginning of the 1980s. This group was part of a second wave of Southeast Asian immigrants to come to the US, the first of which had been the massive exodus from Vietnam in 1975. Given the significant influx of immigrants from Vietnam during the last half of the 1970s, the US government was forced to act. In 1975, the federal government passed and signed into law the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act. The large number of refugees coming to the US from Southeast Asia led the American government to establish a resettlement program, created by this piece of legislation.
The US government utilized this resettlement program, created during the mid-1970s, to assist Vietnamese refugees who arrived in the country. Through this program, voluntary agencies helped find sponsors to support the new immigrants and help them adjust to American society for a limited time. The Cambodian immigrants who arrived a few years later were put through the same program. Between 1980 and 1984, approximately 75,000 Cambodians arrived in the US.
After arriving in the US, the difficulties confronting the Cambodian immigrants did not end. They faced strong opposition from many Americans. Much of the opposition was due to the economic problems in the US at the time. Another aspect of the opposition seemed to be racial.
The large number of refugees coming from Southeast Asia led to additional legislation by the federal government. Congress passed the Refugee Act of 1980 to limit the number of refugees who could enter the US on an annual basis. Although elected officials argued that it was necessary to act to bring the US in line with international standards for the treatment of refugees, the numerical cap suggested it had more to do with opposition to immigration, primarily linked to the economic problems confronting the US.
Economic Challenges
Like many other Southeast Asian immigrants, Cambodian immigrants have tended to work mostly in low-wage jobs, most notably in the seafood processing industry. Many looked for work similar to what they did in Cambodia, but some who had professional training were unable to find corresponding employment in the US. A relatively large number opened grocery stores. Cambodian Americans have generally had a difficult time economically in the US. Many have experienced unemployment, lived in poverty, and depended on government assistance. Their situation has tended to be worse than other recently arrived ethnic groups in the US.
Prior to this wave of southeastern immigration, very few people with Cambodian heritage lived in the US. According to the 1990 US census, 120,000 foreign-born Cambodians lived in the US. More than 100,000 of them came to the country during the 1980s. Most Cambodian immigrants choose to settle in California. The second-largest concentration of Cambodians lives in Massachusetts. Many also live in New York City and Washington state. As the political situation in Southeast Asia improved around 1990, few Cambodians continued to immigrate to the US. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2019, 339,000 people in the US claimed some degree of Cambodian descent. Cambodians continue to come to the US in the twenty-first century, though as immigrants, not refugees. According to the 2020 US Census, the number of people of Cambodian descent living in the US has remained similar to the 1990 numbers. Of this population, about 57 percent were foreign-born.
Bibliography
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