'Repatriation' (from late
Latin ''repatriare'' - to restore someone to his homeland) is the process of return of
refugees or
soldiers to their homes, most notably following a
war. The term may also refer to the process of converting a foreign currency into the currency of one's own country.
Refugee repatriation, post-World War II repatriation
In the 20th century, following all European wars, several repatriation commissions were created to supervise the return of war refugees,
displaced persons and
prisoners of war to their country of origin. Repatriation
hospitals were established in some countries to care for the ongoing medical and health requirements of returned military personnel. In the Soviet Union, the refugees being seen as traitors for surrendering were often killed or sent to Siberian concentration camps.
Debates over repatriation have been some of the most heatedly-debated political topics of the 20th and 21st centuries. Many forced back to the Soviet Union by Allied forces in
World War II still hold this forced migration against the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
Expulsion from the Soviet Union was called ''repatriation'' in Communist propaganda. Poles born in annexed lands were deported to former German lands and told they returned to their Motherland.
Immigrant repatriation
Opponents of
immigration have advocated various types of repatriation measures for immigrants.
Illegal immigrants are frequently repatriated as a matter of government policy. Those who would go further suggest measures of voluntary repatriation, with financial assistance (there have been schemes of this kind), and also measures of compulsory repatriation. Such measures are highly controversial, especially if based on any kind of racial criterion, and encounter vocal political opposition in most democracies.
Repatriation laws
Most countries in central and eastern Europe as well as
Germany,
Greece,
Armenia,
France,
China,
Japan,
Taiwan,
Norway,
Finland,
Philippines,
Ireland,
Turkey and
Israel have
Repatriation laws. This gives non-citizen foreigners who are part of the titular majority group the opportunity to immigrate and receive citizenship. Repatriation of their titular diasporas is practiced by most ethnic nation states. The most famous repatriation law is
Israel's
Law of Return.
Economic repatriation
When a country initiates economic measures to reduce foreign capital investment.
Repatriation of currency
When foreign currency is converted back to the currency of the home country it is called repatriating. Such as if an American converts British Pounds to U.S. Dollars.
Repatriation of human remains
Repatriation also refers to the return of body parts to the nearest relative. In the
USA Native American Indian human remains are uncovered and removed from their burial sites in the construction/land development process. The
Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990 prescribes the process of returning Native American Indian human remains found on federal land to the culturally affiliated tribe/s. In previous eras it was common for
British colonial authorities to collect heads and other body parts of indigenous peoples such as
Indigenous Australians and
MÄori for display in British museums. The repatriation of these body parts is current ongoing. For an example of a successful body part repatriation, see
Yagan.
Cultural repatriation
: ''See Main article at
Art repatriation''
Cultural or art repatriation is the return of cultural objects or works of art to their country of origin (usually referring to ancient art), or (for looted material) its former owners (or their heirs). To restore or return to the country of birth, citizenship, or origin.
Overcoming Repatriation
Repatriation is often the ‘forgotten ’phase of the e