America's history of sometimes welcoming, sometimes fearing refugees

Passengers aboard the "St. Louis." These refugees from Nazi Germany were forced to return to Europe after both Cuba and the US denied them refuge. May or June 1939.

The current conversation about Syrian refugees isn't new. American public opinion on refugees has wavered between humanitarianism and rejection throughout history.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly yesterday to impose strict new screening measures on refugees from Iraq and Syria.

The passage of the measure comes amid concerns that terrorists could enter the United States by posing as refugees. And it's not the first time Americans have had uneasy feelings about refugees.

Historian Erika Lee, Director of the Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota, joined Take Two to discuss America's complicated history of both welcoming and fearing refugees.

"We've always wavered when it comes to immigration, but we've always wavered when it comes to refugee immigration as well. And it really ranges, it ranges from deep, heartfelt humanitarianism, the call for morality and to do the right thing... toward outright xenophobia and rejection."

To hear the full interview, click the link above.