Assyrians Over Here: State Surveillance, Transnational Activism, and Citizenship in World War I America

This dissertation investigates the historical experiences of Assyrian immigrants in the United States during and immediately after World War I, a period defined by heightened state surveillance, racialized citizenship policies, and transnational aspirations for an Assyrian homeland. Utilizing primary sources, including Bureau of Investigation files, Assyrian newspapers, and United States legal records, this study examines how Assyrians negotiated their identity and integration into America society while advocating for the survival and recognition of their sense of nationhood. It explores the interplay between assimilation and diaspora nationalism, as well as the challenges of navigating U.S. racial eligibility laws for citizenship. By situating these experiences within the broader context of stateless diasporas, surveillance, and migration, this research contributes new insights to the historiography of Assyrian-American communities and the complexities of belonging in a post-war world. The study underscores the resilience, internal divisions, and persistent pursuit of cultural and political recognition within the Assyrian diaspora.