Timeline of Yemenis in America
This timeline takes you on an emotional and inspirational journey of Yemeni Americans with their families’ lives and the contributions they’ve made throughout history in the USA.
Explore "yemeni Americans then & now" photo exhibit
The Yemeni American Merchants Association (YAMA) seeks to educate and elevate Yemeni-American merchants and their families through education, civil rights advocacy, business and social service support.
The history of the United States
Is endowed by the contributions of immigrants and their descendants who, like Yemeni Americans, enrich our ethnic and cultural mosaic. The social fabric of our strong nation is composed of the common people who come from marginalized places. Yemen migration patterns to the United States are no different than other immigrant groups’ influx into America. Whether trying to escape war, drought, poverty, persecution, or to seek better financial and educational opportunities for their children; the reasons for leaving behind one’s home country is always a heart-wrenching, though a necessary decision. Unlike other immigrant communities, including other Arab and/or Muslim immigrants, Yemenis have been deprived of their narrative, absent from history books and research, silenced and demonized by the media as well as, US governmental policies and laws.
Timeline of Yemenis in America
1839
The colonization of Aden (Southern Yemen) by Britain, and colonization of Djibouti by France in 1884, increased the demand for labor. Yemenis flocked to these port cities in search of work in coaling stations, shipyards, and ships. This led to these ports being gateways for migration to the West. Yemenis started serving as sailors, small businessmen in East Africa, Madagascar, and Vietnam. From there, some Yemenis found their way to America. Early immigrants came primarily from Southern Yemen as most in the North were in isolation under a strict Imamate regime. British imperialism increased the already extreme poverty in Yemen.1869
Author Mary Bisharat predicted that the first Yemenis came to the United States shortly after the opening of the Suez Canal.1890 - 1920
The first Yemenis in America were officially recorded, but only very little were recorded in the Ellis Island census.1914 - 1918
First recorded Yemeni enlisted in WWI.
Some migrants from the Central Highlands, Taiz, Ibb, and Al-Bayda traveled to Aden for work. They boarded ships to sell goods to crew members and ended up stowing away in search of promising lands. They made themselves indispensable to the captains and asked for work. Once these boats docked in other British and European protectorates, some used these new countries for launching pads to find work in Great Britain or America.
Most migrants joined relatives, countrymen from same family, district or province of Yemen, in New York City (stores and restaurants), Buffalo (steel factories) , San Joaquin Valley (farms), Detroit (stores and restaurants), Canton, Ohio, and Weirton, West Virginia (car factories and foundries).
1942
A Detroit Judge denies immigrant Ahmed Hassan of Yemen naturalization after asking him to remove his shirt in the courtroom because his skin color was dark. The judge concluded that because of his darker complexion, he could not prove that he was of the white race, a criteria for naturalization if one came from Asia. Despite not being from the “barred zone”, the judge justified the ruling by saying he was Muslim, and his country of origin was a far distance from any European border.Post 1945
After WWII, US adopted formal diplomatic relations with Imam Ahmed’s government. Former North Yemen was ruled by religious leaders from 1904- 1962, that in effect isolated Yemen from the outside world in order to maintain power. Yemenis were discouraged from traveling abroad. Frustrated by economic, social, and educational constraints, many went south to Aden, then a protectorate of the British Empire, looking for work. Meanwhile, others went to Saudi Arabia, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Great Britain, and the US. Some migrants came to America by way of Vietnam, where they worked as watchmen in warehouses and shipping docks. Many Yemenis in Vietnam started to leave when the Vietnamese started the revolution against the French. Immigration from North Yemen spiked after the Imam’s assassination in 1948.1962 - 1968
Yemen Civil War: For the next several years as the Imamate fought to regain control, Britain, Canada, Israel, the UN, US, and USSR along with Egypt and Saudi Arabia assisted in fighting, negotiating, and supplying arms to all sides. Years of revolts followed and added to an already desperate situation as people fought for survival. Soon, a trickle followed every year as migrants sent for their friends and relatives.1965
Congress passes the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which lifted the Arab and Asian ban and abolished the immigration quota system. A new wave of Yemenis entered. Still, most were men without their families. This law promised to allow immigrants in from all nationalities on an equal basis.1974
Nagi Daifullah, a migrant worker, union organizer, and strike captain with United Farm Workers was killed by Kern County Police in California at a strike organized by Caesar Chavez. He was one of the most important Arab trade unionists in America.1975
According to the Official Swiss Census, there was a 13.5% increase in immigration to the US by Yemeni individuals, and about 635,000 of the Yemeni population left Yemen. Many wives, children and other family members left for America due to the continued unrest and insurgencies in Yemen. This meant roughly 30% of households had an absent male, or 25% of working men were abroad.1984
There was an immigration exodus due to the bust of the car industry. For the first time since Yemenis came for work, they were leaving without knowing when they will return. Many were laid off when car factories and subsidiary steel plants were struggling and had to close down their factories. After searching and not finding work, many left to Yemen to “wait it out” until the economy improved or friends called them with better opportunities.2002
Isra Girgah, Aden-born boxer wins Women’s International Boxing Federation World Super Featherweight title. Her parents immigrated to Canada from Yemen, then later to the United States to support her love of sports and to competing professionally.2007
Dr. Debbie Almontaser founded the first Arabic Dual Language Public School in the US, the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn, New York.2008
Sadam Ali, a Yemeni American professional boxer, becomes the first Arab American to represent America in the Olympics. He was the only American lightweight allowed to compete in three Olympic qualification tournaments.2015
Yemenis begin fleeing the catastrophic war.2017
Donald Trump signs an executive order that bans foreign nationals from seven Muslim countries from coming to the US. Yemen’s inclusion on that list separates families by not permitting their entry.