1990's Overview
The City Heights neighborhood becomes the preferred destination for resettlement due to the existing social organizations in the area serving refugee groups and the affordability of housing. Refugees from Somalia, ethnic Albanians from Kosovo, and Kurds from Iraq resettle in City Heights.
The Immigration Act of 1990 increases the annual acceptance of refugees in the U.S. from 490,000 to 700,000.
LEGEND
Events in San Diego
Events in United States
Global Events
Lautenberg Amendment
This amendment is created to help Jewish refugees leave the former Soviet Union, but now applies to all people fleeing religious persecution.
1990
Somali Civil War
The Somali Civil War begins. An estimated 800,000 Somalis are refugees in neighboring countries, and 2 million are internally displaced.
1991
Ethiopian/Eritrean border conflict
1998
East Africans flee the border wars in Ethiopia and Eritrea and many are resettled in City Heights, San Diego. An estimated 650,000 civilians were displaced.
1993
1999
California Agricultural Health Workers Survey
The assessment and publication, titled Suffering in Silence, found 70% of California agricultural workers lacked health insurance, and 1/3 of men had never visited a doctor or clinic in their lifetime.
Casa Cornelia Law Center
The Center is established to provide legal services to the immigrant community along the Mexican-American border.
1990
The Crawford Community Connection
This new arrivals support program helps students and families at Crawford High School to access resources (ex: college scholarships, Prom Dive, etc.)
1991
First Asylum Offices Open
Created under the Immigration and Naturalization Service in response to the increasing number of individuals seeking asylum, an "Asylum Corps" was created. Over 150 asylum officers were employed initially to run seven aslyum sites in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Newark, Houston, Arlington, and Miami. 100,000 people filed for aslyum the following year.
1997
Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA)
Provided a path for individuals from Central America, primarily Cuba and Nicaragua, to seek permanent residency in the US. This also suspended many deportations to El Salvador and Guatemala.
1998
Haitian Refugee Immigrant Fairness Act
In response to NACARA, this gave Haitian refugees the same opportunity as other refugees from Central America to seek permanent residency in the US.
