G.I. Babies and Immigration Laws
1953 – October 3rd 1965
After the signing of the Armistice and Prisoner of War exchange, U.S. soldiers returning home faced a new social issue. During the Korean War, many soldiers took Korean wives, and a few had children. These children were known as G.I. babies because of there military heritage. Being of mixed ethnicity, G.I. babies often faced issues trying to live in Korea. It was against Korean culture to have children with people of a different race, so many of these military families ended up shunned by there society. A few of these families would leave to America with the soldiers, still many were abandoned. These abandoned G.I. babies were often given up to adoption, in hopes of being taken to America. However, at this current time there were still many Immigration laws from the 1920’s the banned Asians from moving to the United States. A small fraction of the Korean brides and children were allowed to pass this by stating there attachment to the Military officer in there family, but many were considered below quota. This was changed in 1956 by the passing of the Immigration and Nationality Act also called the Hart-Celler Act. This act was signed on October 3rd 1965 by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. In this act it abolished the quotas based on national origin, more gearing towards the skill level of an immigrant. Once this law was passed, many Koreans, especially the relatives of those married to soldiers, were able to relocate to the United States.
This was a large step in the U.S. acceptance of Asian cultures and Countries. Many Koreans were able to move to America and take high skill jobs such as Doctors. However, it created a different class in Korea, often shunned by other Koreans. Children of mixed race that were born in Korea were segregated in education and general society. It could be said that these events have had both good and bad effects on these two cultures.
After the signing of the Armistice and Prisoner of War exchange, U.S. soldiers returning home faced a new social issue. During the Korean War, many soldiers took Korean wives, and a few had children. These children were known as G.I. babies because of there military heritage. Being of mixed ethnicity, G.I. babies often faced issues trying to live in Korea. It was against Korean culture to have children with people of a different race, so many of these military families ended up shunned by there society. A few of these families would leave to America with the soldiers, still many were abandoned. These abandoned G.I. babies were often given up to adoption, in hopes of being taken to America. However, at this current time there were still many Immigration laws from the 1920’s the banned Asians from moving to the United States. A small fraction of the Korean brides and children were allowed to pass this by stating there attachment to the Military officer in there family, but many were considered below quota. This was changed in 1956 by the passing of the Immigration and Nationality Act also called the Hart-Celler Act. This act was signed on October 3rd 1965 by U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. In this act it abolished the quotas based on national origin, more gearing towards the skill level of an immigrant. Once this law was passed, many Koreans, especially the relatives of those married to soldiers, were able to relocate to the United States.
This was a large step in the U.S. acceptance of Asian cultures and Countries. Many Koreans were able to move to America and take high skill jobs such as Doctors. However, it created a different class in Korea, often shunned by other Koreans. Children of mixed race that were born in Korea were segregated in education and general society. It could be said that these events have had both good and bad effects on these two cultures.