Confronting Xenophobia

Borders Within

Xenophobia, the fear and dislike of non-native people, has shaped state and federal laws and Duke university culture and policies for more than a century. Marginalized groups and their allies demanded changes to discriminatory practices against people born outside of the U.S. In response, Duke’s diversity and inclusion initiatives increased. Today’s students continue to push for integration and respect when confronting unwelcoming environments.

1881 First International Student

Charles Soong studied at Trinity College a year before passage of the Chinese Exclusionary Act, the first U.S law preventing all members of a national group from immigrating to the U.S. Trinity students later supported extending this “policy of further material restriction of immigration”

Photo: (The Chronicle, April 20, 1920).

1924 Immigration Act (Johnson-Reed Act)

In an attempt to shift the growing immigrant demographic in the United States, a numerical limit with quotas was enacted. This was signed into law by President Calvin Coolidge (as pictured). It included the Asian Exclusionary Act, which completely prohibited immigration from Asian countries. This law remained in effect until the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 was subsequently passed. (Photo: Library of Congress)

1949 German Training Program

The media was obsessed with Duke’s German Training Program, which brought men from West Germany to make them “new missionaries” for American idealism. Their public portrayal was primarily driven by xenophobia since students were used to spread American exceptionalism rather than integrate international students into the Duke community.

1952 Immigration and Nationality Act

This act sought to reform U.S. immigration policy but reinforced systemic biases. It retained the discriminatory national origins quota system, which heavily favored Northern and Western Europeans while severely restricting immigration from Asia, Africa, and other non-European regions. While it removed racial barriers to citizenship and introduced small quotas for Asian immigrants, it also expanded government authority to deny entry or deport individuals suspected of communist ties.

(Photo: Pew Research Center)

1960 Creation of Muslim Student Association

In 1960, Muslim students at Duke University established the Muslim Students Association (MSA) to create a space of belonging and support in an unfamiliar environment. Many of these students came to Duke through programs like the Fulbright Program, contributing to the growing international community. However, their experiences were far from easy. As international students, they often navigated a campus atmosphere where racial and cultural tensions simmered.

1973 Foreign Students at Duke Article

In 1973, The Chronicle published its first article exclusively dedicated to the international student experience at Duke, titled "Foreign Students at Duke." The piece featured interviews with a small group of international students but faced significant criticism, including from some of the interviewees themselves, for using the experiences of a few individuals to generalize about the entire international student population.

1982 Plyler v. Doe

The Supreme Court struck down a Texas law denying funding for the education of undocumented children in Plyler v. Doe. The Court held that the law violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, emphasizing that undocumented children are "persons" entitled to protection. However, the Court avoided addressing broader immigration policy issues.

(Photo: Texas State Historical Association)

1991 Protesting Holocaust Denial

Hundreds of students and faculty rallied outside Duke Chapel after The Chronicle published a full-page ad claiming the Holocaust never occurred. The history department ran an ad disputing the claims, while demonstrators called for editors to apologize.

2001 USA Patriot Act

This act expanded government surveillance powers in response to 9/11, aiming to combat terrorism. Many critics argue it fueled Islamophobia by disproportionately targeting Muslim communities, intertwining xenophobia with national security measures and reinforcing negative stereotypes of Muslims as threats.

(Photo: George W. Bush White House Archives)

2013 Protesting Kappa Sigma's Racist Rager

Almost 600 students rallied against an “Asia Prime” fraternity party whose attendees dressed in Asian-stereotyped costumes. Asian Student Alliance President Ting-Ting Zhou called out “the destructive prejudice that must be uprooted from every corner of Duke to make this place an inclusive and safe place for all.”

2020 Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of University of Southern California

The Supreme Court invalidated the rescission of the Department of Homeland Security's policy of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The Court found that the agency failed to explain the basis for its decision but dismissed the argument that the decision to rescind DACA was motivated by discrimination against Latinos.

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Raahim Hashmi, Rachel Christ, Hillary Okpeseyi, Ava Williams, and Giovanni Cutri researched xenophobia at Duke and created this portion of the online and in-person gallery exhibit.

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