In 1992 the term “ethnic cleansing” was first used by Bosnian-Serb paramilitaries against rival ethnic groups in the former Yugoslav republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Their idea was to create “racial homogeneity” in areas with diverse ethnic groups. Basically it was genocide, although to be clear, you can have ethnic cleansing by other means such as forced expatriation.
Forced expatriation is not new in the U.S. The “Trail of Tears” is one of the better known examples. I suppose we could call the relocation camps for Japanese-Americans during World War II “internal expatriation.” although I’ve never heard that label.
The mass deportation proposed for immigrants after Trump assumes the presidency is not exactly “ethnic cleansing,” and I don’t think it would qualify as genocide. I’m not sure what we should call it. I am sure it is not a cause for celebration.
People who want homogeneity in a population don't understand that diversity is good for a population, and makes adaptation to environmental change more likely. An understanding about what is meant by environmental change and fitness is necessary to understand that.
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