In 2020, about8% of Minnesotans were foreign-born, but that percentage was as high as 37% in the late 1800s. The differences are most pronounced among those who say being Indian is very important to them. Online panels are not the same as traditional, probability-based surveys. The survey also asks respondents about their educational attainment, which provides insight into the socioeconomic profile of Indians in America. 22 There is no one-to-one correspondence between Hindi and an Indian state of origin since the language is spoken across a broad swath of states, especially but not exclusively in north and central India. Office of the Registrar General of India, Language: Indian States and Union Territories (Table C-16), Census of India 2011, Paper 1 (2018), https://censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf. Among immigrants ages 5 and older in 2018, half (53%) are proficient English speakers either speaking English very well (37%) or only speaking English at home (17%). There is a separate table for the U.S. territories. Indeed, the survey finds that in counties with more Indian American households, respondents are significantly more likely to say their social networks are dominated by fellow Indian Americans (see figure 17).39 This effect appears to be roughly linear, although there is a steep rise once more than 5 percent of households in a county are Indian American. The national origins of such immigrant populations likewise differ significantly. In 2017, 45% were naturalized U.S. citizens. Read our research on: Congress | Economy | Black Americans. During the same period, the overall U.S. workforce grew, as did the number of U.S.-born workers and lawful immigrant workers. The five largest foreign-born groups in the United States, including those from Mexico, the Philippines, India, China, and Vietnam, account for 44 percent of the total immigrant population. Therefore, it is likely that the sample does not fully represent the South Asian American population and could skew in favor of those who have strong views about caste. Ten percent of IAAS respondents identify as South Asian American, a term which refers to diaspora populations from countries across the region such as Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. 3 Immigration Commission, U.S. Senate, Reports of the Immigration Commission 349 (1911) cited in Sherally Munshi, Immigration, Imperialism, and the Legacies of Indian Exclusion, Yale Journal of Law & Humanities 28, no. Nineteen percent of those who do not identify with a caste group answer similarly. For instance, a March 2020 Pew survey found that 79 percent of Americans agree that there is a lot or some discrimination against African Americans. Religious affiliation too correlates with ones feelings toward their Indian identity. The survey asks respondents whetherin the past one yearthey participated in any of four common methods of civic engagement: working with others in their community to solve a problem; performing voluntary community service without pay; attending a public meeting, such as for a school board or city council; or attending a protest march, demonstration, or rally. Those who wish to do so may apply after meeting certain requirements, including having lived in the U.S. for five years. Nearly half or around 45% of all Asian immigrants or those of Asian origins live in the West, with around a third (31%) currently living in California . 43 The survey asks respondents how comfortable they would be having close friends from various backgrounds. Data from the Center for Migration Studies shows that 78% of immigrants in California were either naturalized or had some other legal status (including green cards and visas), and about 22% were undocumented as of 2019. However, non-citizens are about as likely as foreign-born citizens to engage in the resolution of community issues (12 percent versus 11 percent). More than half a century after the passage of the historic 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which allowed for a new wave of Indian migration to the United States, the Indian American community has come of age. 1 Remarks by President Biden in a Call to Congratulate the NASA JPL Perseverance Team on the Successful Mars Landing, White House, March 4, 2021, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/03/04/remarks-by-president-biden-in-a-call-to-congratulate-the-nasa-jpl-perseverance-team-on-the-successful-mars-landing/. Predictably, responses vary by place of birth (see figure 13). This is a list of U.S. states and the District of Columbia by annual net migration. 44 Badrinathan, Kapur, and Vaishnav, How Will Indian Americans Vote?, 1617. . First, respondents overwhelmingly blame non-Indians when it comes to discrimination on the basis of country of origin or skin color. Where does this leave the Indian American community and its role in promoting U.S.-India relations? The population of immigrants is also very diverse, with just about every country in the world represented among U.S. immigrants. (Hence, the percentages do not add up to 100.) However, duration of stay remains significant. Relative to Muslims, Christians and Hindus are equally likely to self-identify as Indian American (47 percent each versus 32 percent for Muslims), and Hindus are substantially more likely to self-identify as Indian (32 percent versus 17 percent for Christians and 12 percent for Muslims). Overall, one-third of respondents report membership in an Indian American organization. It appears that respondents social networks are more homogenous in terms of religion than either region or caste. Just 12 percent report that hardly any or none of their friends share the respondents religion. The survey asks respondents whether they participate in a set of holidays, some associated with India and others that are either associated with the United States or are more global in nature. Two percent of respondents identify as Other, indicating that none of the declared options satisfy them, while just 1 percent identify as Non-resident Indian, the official appellation used by the Government of India to refer to Indian passport holders living outside of India. Sixteen percent of Indian Americans report being discriminated against by virtue of their Indian heritage. In many ways, the community is often portrayed as the poster child of Americas historic opening to new immigrants whoin ways big and smallhave transformed the country. Respondents are classified as belonging to one of three categories: U.S.-born citizen, foreign-born citizen, and non-citizen. The most common activity is performing community service, something 20 percent of respondents engaged in, followed by working with others in their community (15 percent), attending a public meeting (13 percent), and attending a protest or demonstration (11 percent). Report this user for behavior that violates our Community Guidelines. In 2017, the Trump administration deported 295,000 immigrants, the lowest total since 2006. Table 1 provides a demographic profile of the IAAS sample in comparison to the Indian American sample in the 2018 ACS. The top 15 states also include several with large immigrant populations, such as Florida, Washington, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, where the foreign-born population grew faster than in the country overall. Responses are disaggregated by respondents place of birth. 39 This finding holds even if we use a binary measure of Indian American concentration, using a cut-off of two percent of a countrys population; drop outlier counties with unusually high concentrations of Indian Americans; control for the total number of households in a county; and control for a respondents place of birth. Forty-seven percent of U.S.-born citizens report engaging in this activity, but 45 percent of foreign-born citizens and 41 percent of non-citizens did so as well. Chinese Americans are the largest Asian origin group in the U.S., making up 24% of the Asian population, or 5.4 million people. by subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy. Existing research has found that among major Asian American communities, Indian Americansboth men and womenhave the highest rate of endogamy (the custom of marrying within ones community) in both the first and second generations, although there is a noticeable increase in marriage outside of the community among members of the second generation.21. Thirty-six percent report that either all or most of their friends are of Indian origin, while 21 percent report that very few or none of their friends are of Indian origin. Using data from the US Census Bureau, we found the country that was the most common birthplace for foreign-born residents in each state (excluding Mexico, which was the most common country of birth for immigrants in 32 states). If you enjoyed this article, please support us today! Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Caste has long been a sensitive and controversial issue in discussions about the Indian American community. Source: aiisha5 / iStock . Thirty percent of Congress supporters are not comfortable having close friends who support the BJP; this is double the share of BJP supporters who are uncomfortable having close friends who are Congress supporters. What are the demographic characteristics of Indian Americans? Minnesota has proportionally fewer immigrants compared to the nation as a whole, but we have long been a state shaped by immigration. In terms of regions, about two-thirds of immigrants lived in the West (34%) and South (34%). While the majority are immigrants, a rising share is born and raised in the United States. Diwali and Holi are largely celebrated by Hindus, while very few non-Muslims commemorate Eid. What the data says about gun deaths in the U.S. Can you name the largest immigrant groups from each continent in Norway? To what extent do people of Indian origin encounter discriminatory behavioron what grounds and by whom? In order to be eligible to serve as a respondent for the IAAS, members of YouGovs panel must self-identify as a person of (Asian) Indian origin who resides in the United States. The drop in the unauthorized immigrant population can primarily be attributed to more Mexican immigrants leaving the U.S. than coming in. Business Insider/Andy Kiersz, data from US Census Bureau, NOW WATCH: Here's how the map of the United States has changed in 200 years. There are, consequently, a large share of respondents who are only somewhat comfortable having close friends of the opposite faith. After all, for more than two decades, the Indian diaspora in the United States has been a critical bridge-builder between the two countries.52 But with divisions in the community more apparent and increasingly linked to political disputes in India, we have suggested elsewhere that the diasporas unity of purpose could suffer a setback.53. Community service is the most popular form of civic engagement for Indian Americans of all types. It is worth pointing out that nearly one-third (32 percent) of respondents report not engaging in any of the civic or political activities listed on the survey. 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW How does this group perceive itself, and how does it believe others perceive it? In contrast, there is more variation on the dimensions of region and caste. Sign up to receive emails from Carnegies South Asia Program! There is some evidence to suggest that there are vintage effects: the longer a respondent has spent in the United States, the less emphasis they place on their Indian identityperhaps a reflection of their gradual integration into their adopted homeland. Based on these portraits, here are answers to some key questions about the U.S. immigrant population. Why Are Hate Crime Charges So Rare?, New York Times, March 18, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/nyregion/asian-hate-crimes.html. However, thanks to the decline in response rates, the rise of the internet and smartphone penetration, and the evolution in statistical techniques, nonprobability panelssuch as the one YouGov employshave quickly become the norm in survey research.55 For instance, the Economist partnered with YouGov to track political attitudes around the November 2020 U.S. presidential election using a customized panel.56. Clear differences along religious lines are evident in the responses to the question on the frequency of prayer (see figure 9). 75% of Minnesotas foreign-born residents are working, up from 70% a decade ago. Overall, 89 percent of Hindus and Muslims apiece report they are very or somewhat comfortable having friends of the other faith. Thirty-one percent respond that it is a major problem, 53 percent believe it is a minor problem, and a small minority (17 percent) believe it is not a problem at all. Washington, DC 20036-2103. 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