Date of Award

Spring 5-28-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of arts (BA)

Department

Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

First Advisor

Dr. Vanessa de Veritch Woodside

Abstract

Each year over a million immigrants from all over the world enter the United States to pursue opportunities for education, employment, and to escape oppressive regimes to start a new life. Recent federal Executive Orders, and legislative attempts to remove immigrants have renewed public interest on the topic. Much of this attention on immigration is on our southern border and the effects of U.S. policy and practice on Latino/Latinx individuals, despite similar impacts on African immigrant communities in the U.S. This paper turns attention to the forces that are contributing to migration out of Africa, such as climate change, terrorism, poor economic opportunities, and poorly managed governments. It also aims to explore the experiences of African immigrants in Washington state and, more specifically, to determine if there are institutional systems that are failing or missing in Pierce County, Washington. Grounded in broader research related to African migration trends, this paper describes results from a mixed-method study that analyzes data from demographic surveys and oral interviews with African immigrants in Pierce County, Washington, to better understand the experience African immigrants have when they reach the U.S. and explores how to address a lack of programs and resources to support local African immigrant communities.

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