Pakistani Immigration In A Changing America

By in Immigrant NYC, Middle Eastern Immigration

The Pakistani community is an immigrant group that has largely experienced great social and economic mobility in the United States while also maintaining transnational ties to their homeland.  That spirit of mobility and transnationalism, however, was greatly impacted by the events of September 11, 2001. By Sarah Cappiello, Wagner College ’16 Interview with Dr. Salman Zafar For my project, I had the privilege of meeting and interviewing Dr. Salman Zafar, an active member of the Staten Island community as well as a Pakistani immigrant with a fascinating story to tell.  Throughout our time together he stressed to me, over and over again, the critical importance of education in his life and how it can be used to make a difference in the world.  Education was the whole reason why he and his wife chose to uproot their lives in Pakistan and make the transition to life in New York City....

Pakistani Immigration: Transnationalism

By in Immigrant NYC, Middle Eastern Immigration, Uncategorized

Transnationalism By Kevin Ferreria, Wagner College ’13 “Islam teaches [us that] what country you live in, you should support them. . . . See, if I live in America, I have to support America.” Many Muslim Pakistani immigrants struggle with their identify, negotiating their transnational lives, split between Pakistan and the United States of America, their “model” minority status and the constant suspicion they face as Muslims within post 9/11 United States. The first wave of Southeast Asian immigration began with the 1965 passage of the Immigration Act, which drew upper class, highly educated immigrants entering on professional and technical visas. In 1980, the “second” wave of Southeast Asian immigration began, changing from professional and technical visa entry to the majority entering through family reunification visas. As the first wave began to take root, creating...