Two recent controversies on the political Right have forced an uncomfortable question: What does it actually mean to be an American?

In Texas, Republican railroad commission candidate Bo French sparked a national controversy after posting a photograph of South Asian students celebrating a University of Texas football victory and suggesting their presence represented Americans being displaced by foreigners. The backlash came from both Democrats and Republicans. The facts also undercut the picture he was trying to paint: more than 80% of UT Austin students are Texas residents, while international students make up just 4.3% of undergraduates.