Immigration

Define American

Who we are

What we do

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Representation of Asian American immigrant characters on television has more than doubled since 2020 and preliminary data shows this is still true today, but Pacific Islander (or Pasifika) representation is lacking, and often erased from broader AAPI discourse.
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Viewers of shows that center immigrant experiences had a deeper understanding of real immigrants’ lives and more positive attitudes toward immigrants in the U.S. In particular, a large portion of viewers felt the shows increased their understanding of the sacrifices people make to emigrate. Our research with the Norman Lear Center shows that this has remained true to this day, despite all the fluctuations in immigration policy in the U.S.
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There are more than twice as many Black immigrant characters on television than there were in 2020. The growing representation of Black immigrant characters is in large part due to the sitcom Bob Hearts Abishola, from creator Gina Yashere. The television landscape also saw the inclusion of three Black undocumented characters, whereas our previous research found no representation.

Portray immigrants in a variety of roles and backgrounds. Immigrants come from a wide range of cultures and experiences that have yet to be told.

Don't fall into the portraying immigrants as criminals trope. This harmful stereotype often utilized in media portrayals of immigrant stories is not based on the reality of most immigrants in the U.S.

Allow immigrant characters to be flawed. They do not have to be perfect or overcome every form of adversity to be deserving of rights, worth, or dignity as a human being.

Don't reduce immigrants to their economic value or deprive them of their full humanity by only focusing on their labor or hard work.

Capture a wide range of emotions that immigrants experience. Center moments of joy and strength in order to combat the harmful fear-based narratives.

Don't exploit the fear, trauma, and suffering of immigrants that is overrepresented in media. These stories perpetuate the harmful narrative that immigrants live in constant fear.

Create dynamic and multidimensional immigrant characters that are shaped by their aspirations, joy, and love. Just like anyone else, immigrants have a range of life experiences, hobbies, and pursuits beyond adjusting their immigration status or pursuing citizenship.

Don't focus solely on immigration status or the intricacies of policy and process as the defining characteristic of immigrant characters.

Focus on the emotional and personal impact of navigating the immigration process. Build empathy with the characters and the universal experiences they share, such as navigating love, life changes, and challenges.

Don't feed into the "marriage miracle" trope or the idea that marriage automatically grants citizenship. In reality, each case is evaluated individually, and the process can be lengthy and complex.

Show the resilience of immigrant characters. Immigrants are resilient individuals with agency over their own lives. Share the powerful and creative ways that immigrants have been able to overcome their hardships and refuse to be bullied by the system.

Don't feed into the savior trope. Immigrant characters are often portrayed as victims with no agency over the outcome of their situations and needing rescue by citizens.