Under the communist regime, you could be persecuted for not following the very strict rules of the communist regime. It was also illegal to immigrate or travel outside the nation – you could be persecuted for doing this, as the government refused to grant legal visas. So, if you left Romania in this time, were you and immigrant? Or a refugee?
Review: Refugee vs Immigrant
Refugee – a person who flees their nation without legal permission, out of fear of persecution by their government, and cannot safely return to this nation
Immigrant – someone who leaves from a nation legally, with the sanction of their nation, and often on their own terms
So, was she a Refugee or Immigrant? The Answer:
Up until 1989 Romania was communist, and often persecuted many citizens. Rights were restricted, and you were persecuted if you violated any of the government’s restrictive rules. More importantly, no one was allowed to leave Romania (for immigration or tourist purposes), or else they would be prosecuted upon return. So, in other words… if anyone, including Andreea, tried to immigrate under the communist regime, she would’ve been a refugee! She would be leaving without government permission, trying to escape the oppression of the government, and also would face persecution for leaving if she ever tried to re-enter her country
BUT, fortunately for Andreea, she immigrated to the United States after the communist party fell, during the rule of the democratic government! The democratic government legally gave her a visa, after she entered and played in the Green Card Lottery. Through this, she got her Green Card for the US and now is a citizen. She was very lucky that she left without fear of persecution as a refugee, and even luckier to have won the lottery!
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