Horton, Emma Mae2025-08-212025-08-212025https://hdl.handle.net/10267/36866This document was received from the Rhodes Institute for Regional Studies and uploaded to Dlynx by Rosie Meindl during fall 2025.This research examines the motivations that drive community members to provide humanitarian aid to refugees amid increasingly restrictive U.S. immigration policies. As refugee admissions and immigration policies fluctuate with changes in political administrations, the role of grassroots support becomes increasingly critical. This study aims to explore the reasons why individuals volunteer to support displaced populations, particularly when such efforts often receive limited institutional support and may encounter increasing sociopolitical resistance. By focusing on a refugee aid organization in the Mid-South, this project examines the personal, social, and political factors that influence volunteer motivation. The research begins with a literature review on volunteerism, humanitarianism, and immigration policy, identifying gaps in understanding how volunteers interpret and respond to policy changes. To bridge these gaps, I will conduct in-depth interviews with volunteers at the center, focusing on their motivations, experiences, and evolving perceptions of their roles. I will also examine the organization's volunteer materials, training protocols, and mission statements to analyze how institutional narratives shape expectations and behavior. This study positions volunteerism as both a personal and political act, where individuals act not for direct benefit, but out of moral obligation, empathy, or opposition. Understanding the motivations behind such actions will contribute to broader discussions on civic engagement, social responsibility, and the resilience of civil society in politically challenging times. Ultimately, this research aims to illuminate how individual action persists and adapts in response to shifting national priorities, offering insights into the sustaining power of local humanitarian work amidst systemic constraints.en-USRhodes College owns the rights to the archival digital objects in this collection. Objects are made available for educational use only and may not be used for any non-educational or commercial purpose. Approved educational uses include private research and scholarship, teaching, and student projects. For additional information please contact archives@rhodes.edu. Fees may apply.Refugees—Services for—United StatesVolunteer workers in social service—United StatesHumanitarian assistance—United StatesUnited States—Emigration and immigration—Government policyCivil society—United StatesText