Full Breakdown
AAPI Community Voices Growing Dismay Over U.S. Immigration Policies
6/15/2026, 11:19:32 PM
Poll Findings: A Shift in Perception
A joint AP-NORC and AAPI Data poll released this week shows a sharp decline in confidence among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults that the United States remains a “great place for immigrants.” Sixty-four percent say the country used to be welcoming but no longer is, while only 30 percent still view it positively and 5 percent believe it never was. Approximately half of respondents report that they or someone they know has been detained, deported, or intensely questioned in the past year. Forty-one percent now carry physical proof of immigration status or citizenship at all times, and 34 percent have altered or canceled travel plans to avoid border checks.
Background: Enforcement Under the Trump Administration
The poll follows more than a year of heightened immigration enforcement linked to policies enacted during the second Trump administration. These measures included aggressive ICE sweeps, expanded visa suspensions for citizens of over 75 countries, and a federal court-blocked rule that barred immigrants from 39 nations from receiving final decisions on asylum, work permits, green cards, or citizenship. Legal-status holders report feeling “under question,” prompting new daily precautions.
Data Highlights
- Detention/Deportation: ? 50 % (AP-NORC) vs. ? 60 % (Streamlinefeed) of AAPI adults report personal or close-circle encounters.
- Proof-of-Status Carrying: 41 % of AAPI adults do so, compared with 25 % of the general U.S. population.
- Travel Disruption: 34 % have significantly changed or canceled trips.
- Identity: 59 % of South Asian adults know someone who now carries proof of status; 73 % say cultural mixing is “very” or “extremely” important to U.S. identity (vs. 55 % of all U.S. adults).
- Future Citizenship Views: 81 % support automatic citizenship for children of legal work-visa holders; 54 % extend that view to children of undocumented parents.
- Margin of Error: ± 4.4 percentage points for all responses.
Official Statements & Responses
Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and executive director of AAPI Data, noted that the poll is part of an ongoing effort to capture AAPI, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander perspectives that are often omitted from national surveys. He emphasized that the sentiment “people who have been here for decades are now questioning whether this is the best country for immigrants” signals a cultural shift. The poll’s organizers also highlighted that a recent federal judge struck down the “categorically barred” policy affecting 39 countries, marking a legal pushback against the enforcement surge.
Verbatim Quotes
- “America’s success story has depended critically on the role of Asian Americans, but also immigrants in general,” — Karthick Ramakrishnan, AAPI Data
- “It seemed like we needed to do it. It’s literally become like a second form of identification in addition to the driver’s license,” — Khoa Tran, math teacher, San Antonio, Texas
- “Especially as a South Asian woman, I’m very sensitive to the fact that I have opportunities that my mother and my grandmother, all the women before that didn’t,” — Abigail Jeyaraj, 22, South Hadley, Massachusetts
- “I think I still feel more Korean. I came right around the age where I had very solid memories from growing up in Korea. My immediate family’s back there now,” — Soonho Kwon, 30, La Mirada, California
- “I don’t think this country is ‘founded’ at some point in time.” — Khoa Tran
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The two source sets differ on the proportion of AAPI adults reporting detention or deportation—about 50 % in the AP-NORC data versus nearly 60 % in the Streamlinefeed report. Both agree on the 41 % rate of carrying proof of status, but the poll does not disaggregate this behavior by legal status, age, or region, leaving gaps in understanding which sub-populations are most affected.
Implications and Future Outlook
The findings arrive as the United States prepares for its 250th independence anniversary and as the Supreme Court reviews challenges to birthright citizenship. If the perception that the U.S. is no longer a safe haven persists, the country risks losing highly skilled global talent to more immigration-friendly economies in Europe, Canada, and emerging tech hubs across Asia and Africa. Policymakers will need to address both the legal uncertainties highlighted by the poll and the broader cultural concerns expressed by AAPI communities.
