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Bosnian Americans

According to the U.S. Department of State, approximately 107,000 Bosnian refugees had arrived in the United States by the year 2000. Bosnians fled their country of origin following the war that tore apart the former Federation of Yugoslavia, beginning in 1993. The resettlement experience varied for Bosnian Americans, depending upon their personal characteristics and human capital and the receptivity of their host communities. This entry looks at their background and U.S. experience.

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Life in Bosnia

Bosnia-Herzegovina, a nation of 3.8 million people according to 2007 estimates, is commonly known as Bosnia, and was one of six republics comprising the Federation of Yugoslavia. Bosnia reflected the multiethnic composition of the larger region and appeared to be both the most ethnically diverse and the most tolerant of the republics. More than 30% of all marriages in Bosnian cities in the 25-year period before the war may have been mixed marriages between Bosnian Croats, Bosnian Muslims, and Bosnian Serbs. This is an extremely high rate of intermarriage, indicating high social tolerance and cultural integration. The incidence of mixed marriages in rural areas was lower.

Prior to the buildup of hostilities in the former Yugoslavia, Bosnians experienced a way of life that was solid and good. Life is remembered nostalgically as “the beautiful life” or “the perfect life,” one filled with family, close friends, travel, and a more relaxed lifestyle than many have found in America. Many Bosnians in America today hailed from sophisticated urban environments, such as Sarajevo, in which they enjoyed a high standard of living, rich social networks, and close family ties.

Subsistence farming contributed to the household economy in rural villages. Family and neighbors helped young couples build homes, and newly married couples lived with the husband's family until they saved enough money to build. Families often owned land for a small farm, including orchards, gardens, and animals. Many rural households derived their income from both subsistence farming and wage labor. Subsistence farming transitioned to wage labor over the last 60 to 80 years, and the introduction of factory work for men led to the gradual feminization of agriculture.

Seeking Refuge

The United States has resettled more than 2 million refugees since the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980. The largest wave of Bosnian refugees came to the United States in the few years immediately after the end of the war in 1995. Humanitarian policies set by the U.S. government allowed those with a need for protection and no other durable solution or those identified as of special concern to immigrate. For Bosnians, this included ethnically mixed marriages and those detained due to ethnicity, religion, or political opinion. Families were reunited when spouses, unmarried children of any age, and parents joined them, until the year 2000, when the family reunification program ended. Although many family members took advantage of these programs, others chose to stay in Bosnia or abroad, decided too late, or were caught in processing problems that were not satisfactorily resolved.

Resettlement assistance for Bosnians and other refugees in America includes housing, food, and clothing, orientation to U.S. culture, health screenings, and referrals for social and educational services. These services are complemented by classes in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and employment training and placement. Refugees are expected to go to work within 6 months of arrival in the United States; legislative language lacks specificity but states that refugees should be self-sufficient as quickly as possible. A refugee may change his or her legal status to legal permanent resident after 1 year. After 5 years, refugees may apply for citizenship.

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