Why do nonimmigrant minority groups often maintain stronger ethnic identities than immigrant groups?

Nonimmigrant minority groups often maintain stronger ethnic identities than immigrant groups primarily because immigrants frequently undergo a process of assimilation, where they adopt the traits of the dominant culture to become socially indistinguishable from the rest of society.12

In contrast, nonimmigrant minorities—such as indigenous peoples or groups with deep historical roots in a territory—tend to adhere more strictly to their traditional customs, languages, and beliefs. This persistence of identity is particularly pronounced when these groups are easily distinguished from the dominant society by tangible traits, such as physical markers, which make assimilation more difficult or less likely.31

While immigrant groups often navigate a transition toward the host culture, nonimmigrant groups frequently maintain their distinctiveness through long-standing cultural narratives and social structures that are resistant to change. Ultimately, the strength of an ethnic identity is influenced by the degree to which a group remains socially and culturally separate from the dominant population.12