The United States v. Shmuil David is a seminal case in the history of Assyrian immigration to America. The case, which took place in 1924, centered around the challenge to the U.S. citizenship of Rev. Samuel David, a Chaldean Catholic priest and popular Assyrian writer in Chicago. The case ultimately determined whether or not Assyrians could be considered "free white persons" under U.S. law. Despite its significance, the case has remained virtually unknown to both Assyrians in America and specialists in Assyrian history. The history of how Assyrians, an ethnic and religious minority from the Middle East, situated themselves within racial hierarchies in early 20th-century America remains largely unexplored. This case provides insight into the broader social and political dynamics faced by Assyrians seeking citizenship in post-World War I America as they navigated the conflicting desires to maintain their cultural identity and assimilate into the American mainstream. This case is part of a broader history of ethnic and national communities from the Middle East positioning themselves within western racial hierarchies. The David case provides a starting point for further exploration of racial dynamics among Assyrians in America.