What is Karen

More than 160,000 Burmese have come to the United States seeking asylum from war-torn Myanmar. Burmese refugees represent diverse ethnic and religious groups. They may have experienced personal violence and/or years of living in a refugee camp prior to migration and arrive in the US with very different socio-historical experiences than do Asian immigrants. Little is known about the migration experiences of Burmese refugees, and even less is known about the more recently-arrived Muslim Burmese refugee population. The purpose of this chapter is to advance understanding about Muslim perspectives of the U.S. Burmese refugee experience and consider effective strategies for social workers, healthcare workers, and educators who work with Muslim Burmese refugee clients. Muslim Burmese refugees' migration and resettlement experiences are considered through stories of ethnic violence, refugee camp experiences, struggles with language and communication, and adjusting to the mainstream American cultural milieu.