This report, “Defining American: Decoding ‘Go Back to Where You Came From’” from the South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI) is the first in our ‘Defining American’ series that will disseminate data about South Asians in the United States to better understand our history and current socio-political realities. Following this report, SAAPRI will release additional reports, data briefs and white papers under the same series to dive deeper into the U.S. immigration policy structure and the impacts various decisions have had in influencing South Asian immigration into the country. Although South Asians are one of the largest groups impacted by U.S. immigration policies, their voices and experiences are often missing from broader policy discussions. Through this series, SAAPRI aims to understand the implementation of immigration policies over multiple political administrations and provide a better representation of South Asian experiences in conversations about immigration and what it means to ‘become American’.
This report specifically studies how the evolving landscape of immigration policy impacted South Asian migration to the United States from the 19th century to present day. By providing a historical review, the report lays the foundation for understanding centuries of immigration from South Asian countries – including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the Maldives – as well as the persistence of misconceptions and stereotypes, such as the “model minority” myth and fears that newer immigrants threaten the economic prosperity of those who arrived earlier.
“Go back to where you came from” is a racially motivated sentiment with a longstanding xenophobic history that is used to alienate and marginalize newer immigrants. It reinforces centuries of racial, cultural, and systemic barriers put in place to make immigrating to the United States difficult and at times, impossible. Through this report, SAAPRI aims to deepen understanding of South Asian immigrants’ existence in the United States, for centuries and their role in shaping the country we know today.