Final answer:
Loung and Meng's arrival in the United States was likely delayed due to administrative delays and the extensive refugee status processing that includes health checks, security clearances, and the assessment of the legitimacy of their refugee claims, influenced by US immigration policies of the 1980s.
Step-by-step explanation:
In February 1980, Loung and Meng's delay in making it to the United States can be attributed to several factors. These include administrative delays, which could involve lengthy processing times for their refugee status documentation. Furthermore, historical policies suggest that the political context of asylum applications played a role. For example, during the 1980s, a person's country of origin often influenced their likelihood of gaining asylum in the US, paralleling the geopolitical stance of the US toward that country.
Refugees seeking entry into the US have historically encountered health concerns and a lack of transportation. Moreover, the 1980 Refugee Act saw a reform in immigration laws, allowing for more flexibility but also requiring a well-founded fear of persecution based on politics, religion, race, or nationality, which could have required further vetting and contributed to the delay.
Therefore, the most likely reasons for the delay experienced by Loung and Meng in arriving in the US are administrative delays and the extensive process of refugee status processing. This would encompass a combination of health checks, security clearances, and the legitimacy of their refugee claims, all governed by US immigration policies and international relations at the time.