The governments and security services in Jordan and other host countries are sending a message to all refugees, migrants and citizens that their status in the country is not protected by international agreements or norms. The message is to be quiet and accept what is on offer. And there are few or no channels for complaints, whether about the status itself or about inadequate protection and ineffective or imbalanced aid provision. Sudanese and Somalian refugees are consistently attacked because of their dark color. The vast majority of these people are denied residency or work permits. If they are caught working illegally, following a law passed in 2015, they are detained in a ‘welcome center' in Holot and then, after 12 months, either imprisoned, forcibly repatriated or sent to a third African country. There are four elements that are part of this hierarchy, size, race, time and awareness. UNHCR data shows that the number of Somalis and Sudanese registered as refugees and asylum seekers in Jordan has increased over the past 20 years. Notably, the number of Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers almost quadrupled between 2012 and 2014. Various factors have contributed to the recent rise, including the long-running conflicts and issues connected with access to resources in Sudan and Somalia, as well as the trend of families reuniting in Jordan. It is important to note that Sudanese and Somalis in Jordan feel a double discrimination, due not only to the color of their skin but also to their status as refugees. The high percentage of foreign migrant laborers in agricultural, construction, services and industry suggests that there is room for flexibility, perhaps employing refugees rather than importing migrant labor.

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immigration policy refugee Jordan asylum seeker migrant worker racism immigrant population