Full Breakdown
Decline in Reported Anti-AAPI Hate Incidents Coexists with Persistent Racial Concerns, New Poll Shows
5/5/2026, 2:27:20 AM
Shifting Landscape of Anti-AAPI Hate
The pandemic-era surge in anti-Asian attacks has eased, but rhetoric now focuses on immigration, with slogans like “ICE is going to deport you,” Stop AAPI Hate reports. AP-NORC/AAPI Data poll (1,228 respondents, ±4.5 pp) captures this shift.
Key Survey Findings
- 25 % reported a hate crime or incident in the past year, down from 36 % in Oct 2023; 10 % heard a slur (vs 20 % before) and 15 % faced verbal harassment (vs 23 %).
- 30 % say discrimination is “extremely” or “very” likely in the next five years, and 48 % cite it as a stress source (11 % as a major source).
- 1 in 10 experienced a hate crime and 2 in 10 a hate incident, marking a decline from 2023.
- Financial (75 %) and health (74 %) concerns dominate stress; only 10 % rank discrimination as a major stressor.
- Confidence in doctors, nurses and scientists exceeds 80 %; government confidence is 44 %.
Official Statements & Responses
Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder of AAPI Data, described a “decline but a stabilization” in hate incidents and said economic hardships “have nothing to do with race or immigration.” Stephanie Chan of Stop AAPI Hate warned that anti-immigrant enforcement rhetoric fuels anti-AAPI hostility. AP-NORC noted the poll’s representative design and ±4.5 pp margin of error.
Criticism & Opposition
Experts warn hate crimes are underreported, among South Asian groups where spikes follow visibility events. FBI data show a decline; poll says incidents remain “still really high”; no longitudinal data.
On-the-Ground Reports
Ambar Capoor, an Indian-born Los Angeles resident, recalled a stranger say, “You don’t belong here. You should go back to your country.” Nosheen Hamid, a Pakistani-born Utah mother, reported residency questioning. John Magner, hardware store employee, said he was called “cracker and a little wannabe Pacific Islander” and added, “I work full-time but we’re struggling.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
FBI data show a decline; poll says incidents remain “still really high”; no longitudinal data.
Why It Matters
Experiencing hate correlates with higher anxiety—28 % of victims report moderate or severe anxiety versus 14 % of non-victims. Discrimination erodes trust in government while boosting reliance on medical professionals, shaping public-health outreach and policy.
What’s Next
AAPI Data and AP-NORC plan follow-up surveys in 2027, while groups call for stronger hate-crime reporting and anti-bias education.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The key is there's been a decline but a stabilization. So, it hasn't declined since last year,” — Karthick Ramakrishnan, AAPI Data
- “We're seeing things like 'Go back to China' still. But, it's more like 'ICE is going to deport you,'” — Stephanie Chan, Stop AAPI Hate
- “You don't belong here. You should go back to your country.” — White man (as recounted by Capoor)
- “I work full-time but we're struggling,” — John Magner, hardware store employee
