Timeline of Asian Indian Immigration by Anika Isha Sareen

In the early 1900s, the first group of Asian Indians immigrated to the United States, which primarily consisted of Sikhs immigrating to California in the course of this time period. During this wave of immigration, the Alien Land Law of 1913 was passed in California which prohibited aliens, or noncitizens that were living legally and illegally in the United States, from owning or leasing land (Gonzales, 1986). This law was created in response to anti-Asian prejudice rising from the vast amount of Asian immigrants. A few years later, the 1917 Immigration Act created a “Pacific Barred Zone” which excluded immigrants from particular countries in Asia, including India, from migrating to the United States (Gonzales, 1986). Furthermore, in the United States vs. Bhagat Singh Thind case of 1923, the Supreme Court decision ruled that Indians were not equal to free white persons, and therefore could not become citizens (Gonzales, 1986). During the first wave of immigration from 1907 to 1914, as a vast amount of Sikhs were immigrating to California, racial slurs directed towards Sikhs came about. In addition, there was an emergence of anti-South Asian groups. (Gonzales, 1986) creating an environment of hatred against them which led to their feeling of unwantedness and unbelongingness. Thus, during the era of the Great Depression and World War II, Indian immigration halted; Sikhs were deported or forced to leave “voluntarily”, which meant that if they refused to leave they would get a status of deportation anyway (Gonzales, 1986). Along with being barred from becoming citizens or obtaining property, they could not bring their wives, children, or future brides to the United States and could not marry Anglo women. In addition, they could not do a vast amount of jobs, or practice their beliefs as it would alienate them further from the mainstream society of the United States (Gonzales, 1986).

However, since India supported the United States against Japan during WWII, the laws that the United States had initially placed on the Sikhs had to be modified and the restrictions once placed on them lifted, thus beginning the second wave (1945-1965) of Asian Indians immigrating to the United States (Gonzales, 1986). In contrast to the first two waves, the third wave from 1966 to 1984 consisted of young and educated individuals who knew how to read, write, and speak English. This third wave of Asian Indian immigrants was welcomed by the United States, as they offered a plethora of contributions to American society.