Anti-Immigrant Backlash

A majority of this nation are of immigrant origin, yet a 1993 poll revealed that 60% of Americans believe immigration is bad for the country.

"My first name is Jose...I was born an American Citizen. I resent having to prove I am a citizen. And if you ask me for papers right now, I cannot prove it. Neither could you, but most of you willl never have to. I will because of my first name or my accent, and I resent it." Jose Serrano, Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, (D-NY)

Anti-Immigrant Bias

--Then--

Benjamin Franklin argued that Germans would never assimilate, learn English, and understand freedom; "Irish Need Not Apply" signs and anti-Catholic movements were prominent in the mid-1800's; from the 1880's through 1965, Asians were virtually excluded from entering the United States; in the 1920's the admission of Southern & Eastern Europeans was restricted because they were thought to be "the wrong kind" of immigrant.

The Rise of Nativism

Italians got the blame when polio struck New York City in the summer of 1916. And though turn-of-the-century Jewish immigrants were by most measures healthier than other Americans, nativists confidently accused them of diluting the nation's pioneer stock.

Fear of the Foreign

--and Now--

Hostility against immigrants is at its highest level in 70 years, prompting a rash of bias crimes against anyone perceived to be "foreign." Examples include:

Vietnamese make up only 1 percent of the population of Boston, but they represent 15 percent of the victims of hate crimes in the city.

.........................Intelligence Report

California, where 40 percent of those who immigrate to the U.S. settle, repeatedly sees bombings and other violent attacks on Asian and Latino immigrants or their advocates.

.........................Scapegoating Immigrants

During 1991, there were 119 incidents of hate violence against Arab-Americans - some of it inspired by the Gulf War. This constituted the largest number ever recorded and was more than three times the number of incidents from previous years. .........................American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

Californians' approval of the controversial Proposition 187 has prompted several states to consider similar measures. The proposition requires educators and medical professionals to deny public services to those "suspected" of being illegal immigrants and report them to the police. Even though restraining orders have been filed to block the implementation of Proposition 187, there have already been violations. Churches report incidents of children being told not to come to school, and pregnant women being turned away from prenatal care. One child tragically died because his parents were too afraid to seek medical care for him.

.........................NCC News Release