Understanding the mental and physical health consequences of the U.S. citizenship exam for Rohingya refugees: Implications for policy and practice

Abstract

U.S. citizenship is critical for reducing refugees' precarity, securing access to certain rights, healthcare, and social service benefits, and obtaining a U.S. passport. This paper highlights findings from a community-engaged, critical ethnographic study examining the impact of the U.S. citizenship exam on the health of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. Thirty-one in-depth interviews were conducted with adults who were recruited through a Rohingya-led community center in a U.S. midwestern city and were coupled with participant observations at the community center, and in participants’ homes and neighborhoods. Our study criteria for eligibility included: (1) identifying as ethnically Rohingya, (2) currently living in the Greater [anonymous] area, (3) being at least 13 years of age. We found that Rohingya refugees experience multiple stressors related to the U.S. citizenship exam, which may impact their mental and physical health. These stressors are often exacerbated by their identities as stateless refugees with a longstanding history of trauma and denial of the right to seek formal schooling in their country of origin. Although we also found that community-led initiatives can play an integral role in mitigating some of these stressors, our findings raise critical questions and highlight the importance of considering the ethical and health implications of requiring refugees resettled due to their persecution and exposure to trauma to pass a difficult exam to become U.S. citizens.