2023 Theses Master's

Is Humanitarian Parole Policy for Afghans and Ukrainians Equitable?: An Intersectional Policy Analysis of how Identity Dis/advantages Access to Protection

Ryan, Annie

Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the US opened two humanitarian parole programs for Afghans and Ukrainians to seek temporary protection and resettlement in the United States. Using an intersectional public policy analysis framework, this thesis investigates how the language used to discuss identity in humanitarian parole policy disadvantages some and advantages others in the parole process.

Findings show that humanitarian parole policy for Afghans and Ukrainians largely ignores the multidimensionality of identity and thereby excludes or disadvantages certain identities, such as stateless persons, from humanitarian protection. This signifies flaws with the humanitarian nature of the policy and prevents it from being truly equitable to those affected by these two crises.