Running head: ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 1

Analysis of An Arab Immigrant’s Reasoning for Permanent Residence in the United States

Hannah Monroe

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 2

Abstract

Studies have consistently shown that immigrants face significant barriers to incorporation into

American society, including discrimination and economic challenges. Arab immigrants have

experienced extreme levels of discrimination following the U.S. terrorist attacks on September

11, 2001. Despite these obstacles, immigration to the U.S., including from the Middle East,

remains high. Using qualitative, interview-based data, this study seeks to examine the

motivations of Arab immigrants for establishing a permanent residence in the U.S.. A Jordanian

immigrant who attained U.S. citizenship nearly twenty years ago was interviewed for this study.

Through his discussion of both the challenges he has faced as an Arab immigrant and the

ultimate advantages he has perceived to be associated with life as an American citizen,

conclusions can be drawn about the factors that influence Arab immigrants’ establishment of the

U.S. as their home. While both economic obstacles and discrimination are viewed as drawbacks

to the U.S., ultimately these factors are overshadowed by the educational value, philosophical

ideals, and welcoming environment provided by life in the U.S.. Implications for educators,

community planners, and U.S. businesses are discussed, including the cultivation of personal

relationships with immigrant students, increasing walkability of immigrant communities, and

recognition of immigrants’ professional experience in their native countries.

Keywords: U.S. immigration, Arabs, education, permanent residence, discrimination

ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 3

Introduction

Immigration can be a highly contentious topic in the United States, with some individuals

full-heartedly supporting reforms to ease the demands of the immigration process, while others

remain just as adamant that immigration should be lessened or restricted. It is no secret that

immigrants face unparalleled levels of discrimination upon their entrance into the U.S., with

many immigrants continuing to be discriminated against long after they have made the U.S. their

home. In addition to such social challenges, immigrants also face many logistical barriers to

building a home in their new nation. Upon entering the U.S., many immigrants are forced to

learn a new language or customs. Often, their educational credentials and professional

experiences do not transfer to the U.S., meaning that they must start over with low-level jobs.

Research Question

With the consideration of all of these logistical and cultural barriers faced by immigrants,

it may be surprising to discover that immigration to the U.S. continues to remain high, with over

one million immigrants coming to the U.S. annually (Radford, 2019). While many immigrants

intend to reside in the U.S. only temporarily, a significant proportion of those ultimately decide

to remain in the U.S. and to establish the U.S. as their new home (Chomsky, 2018).

Discrimination against Arab immigrants has been especially intense since the events of

September 11, 2001 (9/11); however, Middle Easterners still compose four percent of the U.S.

immigrant population (Radford, 2019). The research question forming the basis of this study,

therefore, is: Why do Arab immigrants choose to permanently remain in the post-9/11 U.S.?

Literature Review

With the rise of anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric, it seems puzzling that so many

immigrants choose to remain in the U.S.. It has been found that reasons for establishing
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 4

permanent residence in the U.S. often stem from personal characteristics, family and community

influences, and the sociopolitical climate of the host nation (Valdez, Valentine, & Padilla, 2013).

These factors can ameliorate the economic challenges faced by immigrants in the U.S.. Even

when immigrants are compared with U.S. natives of the same skill level, immigrants tend to

receive significantly lower earnings that often do not approach the levels of natives’ earnings for

multiple generations (Abramitzky & Boustan, 2017).

This study focuses specifically on an immigrant located in North Carolina who identifies

as Muslim and an Arab. It is especially important to consider these aspects of his identity

because of the prevalence of anti-Muslim rhetoric in the U.S., and in North Carolina specifically.

Within the southern U.S., North Carolina has seen the second highest growth in its population of

Arabs (Allman, 2017). However, a recent poll revealed that two-fifths of North Carolinians

believe that it should be illegal to practice Islam in the U.S. (Allman, 2017). Following the

terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Muslim immigrants have faced even more severe

discrimination in the U.S.. Arab-Americans have been over-targeted by the USA PATRIOT Act,

which has led to Arab-American students becoming disengaged with their schoolwork and

lacking a sense of belonging to the U.S. (Bonet, 2011). Arabs in the U.S. are now experiencing a

sort of double consciousness, in which they must contend with the fact that they are both

participating members of American society, while also being perceived by others as a threat to

the well-being of the U.S. (Tindongan, 2011). Even the legal rights of Arab-Americans have

been threatened, with racial profiling against Muslims being permissible immediately following

the attacks on 9/11, and the PATRIOT Act allowing non-American Arabs to be detained on mere

suspicion of terrorism for as much as a week before charges needed to be filed (Ali, 2012).
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 5

Despite this discrimination, however, immigrants have found ways to be incorporated

into U.S. society. Choi, Poertner, and Sambanis (2019) found that shared norms between

immigrants and the citizens of their new nation can ameliorate the negative effects of

discrimination. Additionally, demonstrations of civic engagement by immigrants lead to a

decrease in discrimination (Choi et al., 2019). In regards to the economic sector, skilled

immigrants also became more desirable to U.S. businesses following the Great Recession

because of their high productivity (Hao & Warkentien, 2016). Through an evaluation of both the

challenges faced by an Arab immigrant and the benefits he perceives through belonging to the

U.S., conclusions can be drawn regarding the motivations of Arab immigrants for establishing

permanent residence in the U.S..

Method

This study uses a qualitative interview-based approach. The selected participant is a

forty-two-year-old male from Amman, Jordan. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1996 at the age of

eighteen years old. He is currently based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The researcher conducted

a 75-minute phone interview with the participant. The interview was partially scripted, with

twenty-one questions written by the researcher used to guide the conversation (see Appendix A).

The interview was not limited to these questions, however, and the participant was encouraged to

tell his immigration story in a narrative format.

Findings

Context

Yazeed Atiya was born and raised in Amman, Jordan. The third of four children and the

only son, Yazeed was very close with his father, a native Jordanian who also had American

citizenship. After completing secondary school, Yazeed and his father moved to Manchester,
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 6

New Hampshire, in the northeastern U.S., where two of Yazeed’s uncles lived with their

families. Two years after their arrival in the U.S., Yazeed’s mother and sisters followed them

from Jordan. Yazeed applied for and was granted a green card upon his arrival in the U.S., and

after five years he attained American citizenship. Yazeed and his family maintained close ties to

their Jordanian heritage, however, continuing to travel back to Jordan every other year, with their

Jordanian relatives visiting them in the U.S. on the alternate years.

Upon initially immigrating, Yazeed did not intend to remain in the U.S. He planned to

earn a degree from an American university and then return to Jordan, where he would make his

permanent residence. Yazeed maintained this sojourner outlook for several years. After

completing college, he worked and lived in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and

Jordan. Eventually, however, he returned to the U.S. and came to consider it his home. Now,

Yazeed is married to a fellow Arab immigrant, and they are raising their daughter as an

American. Yazeed faced many hardships in the U.S., including poverty, discrimination, and

culture shock. Despite all of these challenges, however, he ultimately decided to remain in the

U.S. because of its educational opportunities, philosophical ideals, and welcoming environment,

in addition to the unwelcome changes that he has witnessed in Jordan.

Challenges

Economic. In Jordan, Yazeed’s father was a successful engineer and the owner of two profitable

businesses. Upon arriving in the U.S., however, he struggled to find a job because the U.S. did

not acknowledge his educational credentials or occupational experience. Additionally, Yazeed

and his father were both unfamiliar with the concepts of resumes and applications, as these were

not used in Jordan. Yazeed initially had to spend much of his free time in the U.S. at public

libraries, therefore, in order to research the requirements of these documents.

ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 7

To add to their challenges, before coming to the U.S., Yazeed and his father had been

told that college was free in the U.S.. They soon realized, however, that such was not the case.

Their plan had always been for Yazeed to attend college in the U.S., but now it appeared that

being able to afford college would be a struggle in and of itself. Yazeed found himself working

at McDonald’s and saving all of his money in the hopes of soon being able to afford college

tuition. He was approached by a military recruiter who promised him that the military would pay

for his education if he agreed to join the military; Yazeed’s fluency in Arabic was seen as a

valuable asset for the U.S. military presence in the Middle East. Yazeed had never wanted to join

the military, but he was tempted by the economic benefits being presented to him. Just five

months after arriving in the U.S., he returned to Jordan to discuss the issue with his mother. She

was vehemently opposed to Yazeed enlisting in the military, so he decided to refuse the offer.

Although Yazeed soon returned to the U.S. after visiting with his mother, he wanted

desperately to remain in Jordan. He had yet to begin college in the U.S., so he lacked social ties

to any person or entity there. Additionally, he continued to be overwhelmed by accumulating

expenses. He was anxious about how he would pay for college and was also burdened by car

payments. He had recently bought a car in the U.S., but because he was under twenty-one years

of age, his car insurance payments cost even more than his monthly car payments. To make

matters worse, the first night after he bought his car, it was towed because of a local ordinance

that required cars to be moved off the street when it snowed. Yazeed and his father were both

unfamiliar with this law, so they had not known to move the car. They initially thought their car

had been stolen, and they required the help of Yazeed’s uncle to ultimately track down the car’s

location. With all of these economic stressors, Yazeed was reluctant to return to the U.S.,
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 8

knowing that he would continue to face hardship. He ultimately decided that he needed to “man

up,” however, and he did return to the U.S.

Discrimination. Yazeed had been told of the American ideals of liberty and equality prior to his

immigration. He was excited by these ideals and was eager to embrace them. His first impression

of the U.S., however was largely negative. When Yazeed and his father arrived at the airport in

New York, they immediately went through customs. Due to the loud noises around him, Yazeed

did not hear a question asked to him by the customs agent. When he said “Excuse me?” to the

agent, her reaction was to roll her eyes and say “You must not understand English.” On the

contrary, Yazeed was fluent in English, but the customs agent did not give him a chance to

respond. Instead, she sent him to a separate area where he was forced to wait until everyone else

had finished going through customs. Through this experience, Yazeed immediately discovered

that liberty and equality were not applied evenly across all subgroups of the U.S. population.

For his first several years in the U.S., Yazeed had primarily positive interactions with

U.S. citizens. Shortly after Yazeed earned his own U.S. citizenship, however, tragedy struck the

U.S. on September 11, 2001. Yazeed recalled learning of the attacks on the Twin Towers while

he was working at his part-time job at McDonald’s. Initially, he and his coworkers were all

bound together by their shared horror at the loss of life, but once the second Tower was hit and it

became apparent that they were witnessing an act of terrorism rather than an unfortunate

accident, Yazeed could feel all of his coworkers eyeing him suspiciously. While no one at work

was ever verbally or physically hostile, from that point forward, Yazeed perceived a distance

between himself and his non-Arab peers. Yazeed struggled with two simultaneous forms of grief

following 9/11, as he grieved the loss of his fellow Americans while also learning to cope with

the newfound tension that emerged because of the rising precedence of anti-Arab sentiments.
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 9

The discrimination felt by Yazeed and his family following September 11, 2001,

continued, and became especially frightening when an anonymous number called their home and

left a threatening message. The discrimination was most severe against Yazeed’s young cousin,

however. This eleven-year-old boy was named Mohamed, a recognizably Arabic name. He faced

persistent bullying at school because of his Arab identity, ultimately culminating in he and his

siblings returning to Jordan with their mother. Yazeed was deeply disturbed by the

discrimination faced by his loved ones, so in 2002, he took a job in Saudi Arabia and prepared to

leave the U.S. behind.

Advantages

Education. The primary purpose of the Atiya family’s immigration to the U.S. was for Yazeed to

attend an American university. Education is incredibly competitive in Jordan. All students

receive a strong educational platform in elementary and secondary schools, especially if they

attend private schools, as Yazeed did. Due to a small number of higher education institutions,

however, the exit exam for high schoolers is incredibly difficult so as to limit the number of

students who will attend college. Only about fifty percent of students pass the exam, and even

those who pass the exam may still face restrictions. The test is scored out of 100 points, but only

those who score in the upper nineties are permitted to attend medical school. Scores in the

eighties and lower nineties can grant one admission to an engineering program. Beyond these

two professions, any other career will lead to a “mediocre” life, according to Yazeed.

When Yazeed took his exit exam for high school, he did not attain a high enough score to

provide him with entrance into either the medical or engineering professions. It was very

important to Yazeed and his family that he be economically successful, however, so they decided

to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the U.S. citizenship of Yazeed’s father. In
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 10

Jordan, having a degree from an American institution of higher education was considered very

prestigious, so Yazeed knew that he could return to Jordan with his degree and attain entry into

an esteemed professional field.

When he arrived in the U.S., Yazeed completed the Test of English as a Foreign

Language (TOEFL), which was required for enrollment into English-speaking higher education

institutions in the U.S. Despite being fluent in English, Yazeed still struggled with the fast speed

at which Americans spoke English and had difficulty deciphering their accents. He did pass the

TOEFL, but he only earned a score high enough to grant him admission to community colleges.

He enrolled in a community college, therefore, and earned his associate’s degree before

transferring to a four-year university to earn his bachelor’s degree.

Through his experiences at both the community college and at the four-year university,

Yazeed began to develop a sense of belonging to the U.S. He had one professor who “changed

[his] life” after introducing him to the concepts of ethical thinking and critical thinking.

Additionally, Yazeed reported that all of his professors and classmates were welcoming and

encouraging towards him, which greatly offset his negative interactions with those holding more

discriminatory mindsets. While Yazeed continued to miss the familiarity of Jordan, he ultimately

did not regret moving to the U.S. because of the gratitude he felt for the educational

opportunities provided to him in this nation.

Philosophical ideals. When Yazeed finished college in the U.S. and began working in the

Middle East, he quickly realized that he had unconsciously adopted American ways of thinking

into his personal outlook on life. While living in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan,

Yazeed was pleased to once again be surrounded by people who spoke his native language and

understood his heritage culture. He also faced fewer economic struggles because of the high
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 11

compensation of his jobs in the Middle East, which included allotments for housing and

transportation, even paying for flights to visit his family in the U.S.. Initially, Yazeed assumed

that he would continue to work in the Middle East. After two years, however, Yazeed realized

that he needed to return to the U.S. because of the difference between his personal ideology and

that of most Middle Easterners.

In the U.S., Yazeed had been taught that everyone was equal and that every person

should be treated with respect. Importantly, he believed that all voices should be heard and be

regarded as offering valuable insight. When working in the Middle East, however, he soon

learned that equality was replaced by obedience to organizational hierarchies. Managers were

revered and could not be questioned. Additionally, human resources departments, which are

staples in American corporations, were nonexistent or merely illusory in the Middle East. When

Yazeed encountered issues with his employers or colleagues, therefore, he had no one to whom

he could report his frustrations. After enduring this hierarchical system for a few years, Yazeed

then returned to the U.S. because, as he said, “I realized the truth of God Bless America.”

Even now, several members of Yazeed’s family remain in Jordan. They continue to visit

each other, and they remain a close-knit family. Yazeed was adamant in his confirmation,

however, of the cultural divide that exists between his Jordanian relatives and himself. As

Yazeed said, “I have learned critical thinking, ethical thinking, and equality. The U.S. taught me

to think critically and argue respectfully.” When engaging with his family in Jordan, Yazeed is

consistently struck by the lack of these values in their own lives. For many of his relatives, it is

expected to not question what one is taught and to not argue with those of a higher status. Now

that he has been exposed to U.S. culture, Yazeed can no longer remain comfortably silent or
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 12

subordinate. In some ways, he feels more American than Jordanian, which is especially obvious

when he interacts with his relatives back in Jordan.

Environment. With few exceptions, Yazeed has felt overwhelming support from those whom he

has met in the U.S.. When he began attending community college, Yazeed was very self-

conscious of his English abilities because of his score on the TOEFL. At the end of each of his

first class sessions, Yazeed explained to his professor and classmates that he was a recent

immigrant from Jordan whose English skills may be poor. Rather than using this revelation as a

cause for discriminating against Yazeed, he was met with frequent praise of his English skills by

all with whom he worked. In addition, his professors were sensitive to his background as an

immigrant and were patient with the learning curve caused by the culture shock he experienced

upon entering the U.S., but they also “did not go easy on [him].” Yazeed was very appreciative

of the balance struck by his professors, because he recognizes that their high standards for him

have greatly contributed to his success as an adult.

While Yazeed struggled to find a sense of community in New Hampshire, where he first

lived with his father, he ultimately found his second home in North Carolina. New Hampshire

did not suit Yazeed for several reasons, including its frequent snow, isolation from neighbors,

and its necessity of “hustling.” According to Yazeed, in New Hampshire, it was “necessary to be

a hustler in order to earn a good living.” By “hustler,” he meant that he needed to work multiple

jobs and to always be on the lookout for opportunities for advancement. This high-stress,

competitive lifestyle did not suit him. When he returned from working in the Middle East, he

decided to settle in North Carolina, where one of his sisters lived with her family. In North

Carolina, Yazeed found the community for which he had been searching. In addition to more

mild weather, Yazeed found there to be more interaction between his neighbors in North
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 13

Carolina, which created a more welcoming environment. Additionally, he perceived there to be

less “hustling” in North Carolina, which enabled him to work just one job while still maintaining

a satisfactory standard of living.

Changes in Jordan. When asked what he misses about Jordan, Yazeed’s response was

immediate: “Everything.” He described his longing for the food, smells, family, relationships,

weather, geographical location, and simplicity of life that he associates with Jordan. He was

quick to clarify, however, that the Jordan he misses is the Jordan of the past. Yazeed last lived in

Jordan during a much simpler time, when “There was less technology, money was not an issue,

and people were genuine.” Yazeed would love to return to the Jordan of his youth, but he knows

that his issues with the U.S., such as dependence on technology, materialistic lifestyles, and

disingenuity, are also present in modern-day Jordan.

On his many return trips to Jordan since immigrating to the U.S., Yazeed has been

disappointed by the changes he has observed in his native country. Following the First Gulf War,

Jordan became a popular location for millionaires to buy land. Many native Jordanians profited

from selling their land to these newcomers; unfortunately, Yazeed’s family had sold their land

prior to this influx of affluence, and therefore did not benefit from high purchase prices.

Additionally, many Palestinians migrated to Jordan following the First Gulf War. The

combination of these two new groups of people caused Jordan to become rather crowded and

congested, at least in comparison to its status throughout Yazeed’s childhood. When Yazeed

visits Jordan now, he does not like that it is composed of so many large cities, so he prefers the

less-congested area of North Carolina in which he lives.

ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 14

Implications

Education

Yazeed’s sense of belonging to the U.S. largely stemmed from his positive interactions

with those in the educational field. Prior to beginning his education at community college,

Yazeed seriously considered returning to Jordan permanently to live with his mother. Despite

being aware of the vast opportunities that would be available to him upon completion of an

American degree, Yazeed felt wholly unmotivated to return to a nation to which he felt no sense

of connection.

Upon returning to the U.S. and beginning college, however, Yazeed soon came to enjoy

his life in the U.S. far more. He felt welcomed by his professors, who held him to high standards,

but simultaneously were considerate of his immigrant background. The skills that he was taught

through American higher education, such as critical thinking and ethical thinking, further

contributed to his attachment to the U.S. by instilling in him ideals that he quickly adopted into

his own personal philosophy regarding how the world should function.

For educators of immigrant students, Yazeed said that their most important role is to

“make [the students] feel that this is their home, or at least their second home.” Despite spending

a few years working in the Middle East where he was surrounded by the comforts of his heritage

culture, Yazeed could not ignore the sense of belonging he felt to the U.S.. While he did face

discrimination and economic hardships in the U.S., these struggles were overshadowed by the

welcome he received from his educators and classmates, as well as the philosophical outlook

they imparted upon him. Educators should take the time to connect personally with their

immigrant students, therefore, so that these students will realize that their cultures are valued.

Educators should not hold these students to lower standards, though, but should push them to
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 15

excel, as doing so will allow them to succeed in their professional careers in the U.S.. Lastly,

educators should recognize the ideals on which the U.S. and its higher education institutions

were built: equality, liberty, critical thinking, and ethicality. These ideals should be emphasized

throughout the education of immigrant students, as doing so will increase their attachment to

American ways of life and likely motivate them to remain in the U.S., where these ideals can be

practiced freely.

Community

Yazeed struggled to find a community to which he felt he belonged in New Hampshire. It

was not until he moved to North Carolina that he developed an attachment to his neighbors and

community members. A large part of this newfound sense of community in North Carolina was

derived from the friendliness of his neighbors in this new location. While in New Hampshire,

Yazeed felt largely isolated from his neighbors. The layout of his community did not encourage

neighbors to interact, as the houses were spread out and there were few locations within walking

distance from residential areas. In his neighborhood in North Carolina, however, community

members have more opportunities to interact because of closer proximity between houses and

more locations within walking distance.

For city officials and community planners, Yazeed’s experience can be used to inform the

development of future neighborhoods. A key feature that facilitates community belonging

appears to be walkability. When individuals are able to walk from their homes to popular

locations such as parks, restaurants, museums, food markets, and shopping centers, they are more

likely to encounter their neighbors on these outings, which will likely spur the development of

friendly relationships between neighbors. For Yazeed, he missed the relationships he had in

Jordan most of all upon moving to the U.S.. Once he forged new relationships in North Carolina,
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 16

however, he no longer felt deprived of a community and began to view himself as belonging in

the U.S..

Economy

The greatest struggle faced by Yazeed upon immigrating to the U.S. stemmed from his

family’s financial challenges. He faced the obstacle of paying for college while simultaneously

contending with his father’s lower economic status upon entering the U.S.. Even once Yazeed

graduated college and attained his first job in New Hampshire, he struggled to keep up with the

pace of life that he referred to as “hustling.” Yazeed experienced less economic stress while

working in the Middle East because of its high compensation that included payments for

housing, transportation, and travel. The economic benefits of working in the Middle East were

the largest temptation Yazeed faced when debating whether or not to return to the U.S..

Ultimately, economic challenges in the U.S. were overpowered by the educational and

philosophical advantages that Yazeed perceived from an American lifestyle, which may mean

that economic incentives are less important to the retention of Arab immigrants. It is still

important to acknowledge the economic barriers to life in the U.S., however, in order to ease the

transition of immigrants as they become incorporated into U.S. society. One important policy

suggestion would be to encourage transference of degrees and professional experience from

immigrants’ native nations to the U.S.. Yazeed’s father had clearly proven his economic strength

through his attainment of a competitive degree in Jordan and the success of his two Jordanian

companies. Despite this success, however, he was unable to find skilled work in the U.S.. If the

U.S. had recognized the value of the experience of Yazeed’s father, Yazeed and his family would

have had fewer monetary concerns, leaving Yazeed free to focus on his education. Additionally,
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 17

the economic sector of the U.S. would have benefited from the acquisition of the professional

expertise and multicultural skills of Yazeed’s father.

Another policy recommendation would be for American businesses to provide higher

wages and greater employee incentives, such as housing and transportation allotments. Providing

travel opportunities to immigrant workers’ native countries could be especially rewarding, as

these would allow the maintenance of social and cultural ties to the immigrants’ heritage culture,

thus decreasing feelings of isolation from one’s heritage. While these changes may cost more

money initially, employee retention in the long-term would likely ameliorate these costs, while

also improving the international reach of these companies.

Conclusion

This study has several limitations. First of all, only one immigrant was interviewed.

While his contributions were highly detailed and provided significant insight into the challenges

and enlightenments experienced by Arab immigrants, his story must be regarded as the case

study that it is. The implications for education, community, and the economy must be recognized

as being specific to Yazeed’s experience, therefore, and may not be generalizable to the wider

population of Arab immigrants in the U.S.. Additionally, Yazeed experienced several privileges

in his immigration experience, due to his father’s U.S. citizenship, the established presence of his

uncles in the U.S., and his own strong educational background. Arab immigrants without such

advantages likely experience even more challenges than Yazeed, and these obstacles may prove

insurmountable to establishing the U.S. as a permanent residence.

Strengths of the study include the rich qualitative data gathered from Yazeed’s detailed

responses. Yazeed’s eloquence and willingness to share details of his immigration experience

enabled vast insights to be made regarding his motivations. Also, Yazeed’s experience working
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 18

in both the Middle East and in the U.S. gave him a valuable perspective from which to

comparatively evaluate the conditions of both nations. His ultimate success in navigating the

educational and economic sectors of the U.S. provides insight into the actions that can be taken

by educators, community planners, and economic leaders in order to ensure better outcomes for

U.S. immigrants.

Yazeed’s immigration experience confirms previous findings that discrimination against

Arab immigrants and Arab Americans is rampant, especially following the attacks of September

11, 2001. Additionally, economic conditions in the U.S. proved challenging to Yazeed’s

attainment of educational and economic success. Ultimately, however, Yazeed has come to

regard the U.S. as his home, and he no longer has any intention of returning to the Middle East.

The factors that influenced his sense of belonging to the U.S. included the advantageous

educational opportunities provided by American institutions of higher education, his

internalization of American philosophical ideals, the welcoming environment shaped by the

kindness of his American colleagues, and the unwelcome changes he has witnessed in Jordan.

These first three factors can be strengthened through U.S. policies by the encouragement of

personal ties between educators and their immigrant students, an emphasis on American ideals in

classroom and professional settings, and the development of neighborhoods with greater

walkability. The economic challenges faced by immigrants in the U.S. can also be addressed

through policies that will increase the skilled work opportunities of immigrants and supply

higher wages and added incentives for immigrant workers, especially ones that encourage the

continuation of connections to heritage cultures.

ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 19

References

Abramitsky, R., & Boustan, L. (2017). Immigration in American economic history. Journal of

Economic Literature, 55(4), 1311–1345. doi: 10.1257/jel.20151189.

Ali, Y. (2012). Sharia and citizenship: How Islamophobia is creating a second-class citizenry in

America. California Law Review, 100(4), 1027–1068.

Allman, K. R. (2017). "I'm not ashamed of who I am": Counter-stories of Muslim, Arab

immigrant students in North Carolina. In X. L. Rong & J. Hilburn (Eds.), Immigration

and education in North Carolina (pp. 81–102). Sense Publishers.

Bonet, S. W. (2011). Educating Muslim American Youth in a Post-9/11 Era: A Critical Review

of Policy and Practice. The High School Journal, 95(1), 46–55. doi:

10.1353/hsj.2011.0013.

Choi, D. D., Poertner, M., & Sambanis, N. (2019). Parochialism, social norms, and

discrimination against immigrants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of

the United States of America, 116(33), 16274–16279. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1820146116.

Chomsky, A. (2018). "They take our jobs!": and 20 other myths about immigration. Boston:

Beacon Press.

Hao, L., & Warkentien, S. (2016). Uneven Hedging of Economic Risks for a Skilled Workforce:

Are Immigrants Disadvantaged? Population, Space and Place, 22(5), 411–427. doi:

10.1002/psp.1913.

Radford, J. (2019, June 17). Key findings about U.S. immigrants. Retrieved April 16, 2020, from

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/06/17/key-findings-about-u-s-immigrants/.

Tindongan, C. W. (2011). Negotiating Muslim Youth Identity in a Post-9/11 World. The High

School Journal, 95(1), 72–87. doi: 10.1353/hsj.2011.0012.

ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 20

Valdez, C. R., Valentine, J. L., & Padilla, B. (2013). "Why we stay": Immigrants' motivations for

remaining in communities impacted by anti-immigration policy. Cultural Diversity and

Ethnic Minority Psychology, 19(3), 279–287. doi: 10.1037/a0033176.

ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 21

Appendix A

Interview Questions

1. How old were you when you immigrated to the US?

a. If a child, compare your education in the US versus in Jordan.

2. Who came with you?

a. If siblings, how old? Were their experiences similar or different to yours?

3. Did you go directly from Jordan to the US?

4. Please describe your immigration journey to the best of your ability.

5. What hardships did you experience in Jordan? What hardships did you experience in the

US?

6. What were your family’s primary reasons for leaving Jordan?

7. Did you take trips back to Jordan after moving to the US? If so, how often? Most recent?

What changes have you observed?

8. Do you still have family in Jordan? Do you experience a cultural divide when

communicating with them?

9. What do you miss about Jordan?

10. How were you treated upon entering the US? Were you welcomed? Did you experience

racism/discrimination?

11. Where did you live when you first arrived in the US? Were there many other immigrants

in this area?

12. Did you and/or your family speak English when you came to the US? If not, were you in

ESL classes at school?

13. Were your teachers and classmates aware of and considerate of your recent immigration?
ARAB IMMIGRANT REASONS FOR PERMANENT US RESIDENCE 22

14. Did you feel welcomed by your community (or school) upon moving to the US?

a. If so, what did people do to make you feel comfortable?

b. If not, what could have been done to ease this transition?

15. What were your parent(s)’s jobs in Jordan? In the US?

16. How does your child’s experience as a second-generation immigrant differ from your

experience as a first-generation immigrant?

17. Since leaving Jordan, have you lived in nations other than the US?

18. Do you consider the US your permanent home?

19. What advice would you give to educators working with immigrant children?

20. What advice would you give to immigrant students?

21. Is there anything else you would like to share about your immigration experience?