My parents emigrated from India and Pakistan to the U.S. in the 70’s and my brother and I were born in the U.S. Despite this, we have been told many times growing up to “go back where we came from.” However, every single person in the U.S. now has ancestors that once were also immigrants to the U.S.

So why does the word “immigrant” carry a negative connotation to this day when immigration to the U.S by all of our ancestors is the only reason we can call ourselves “Americans” today?