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Lucy Quaggin

Most Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults believe the United States used to be a great place for immigrants but no longer is, according to a survey released on Monday ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence next month.
“Forty-one per cent of AAPI adults say they have started carrying proof of immigration status or citizenship, or know someone who has, and 34 per cent say the same about changing travel plans because of immigration status,” according to the Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research.
Only one in three surveyed still sees the US as a great place for immigrants. Meanwhile, 64 per cent say that it used to be but is not any more.
The findings come as US President Donald Trump has targeted legal and illegal immigration in his second term, with policies affecting everyone from undocumented immigrants to students and highly skilled workers.
Since Trump’s return to office, ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has conducted operations in several US cities as part of the government’s sweeping immigration blitz.
Separately, half of AAPI adults said they have altered their behaviour or know someone who has because of immigration status.
“AAPI adults value core elements of American identity like the American dream, democratically elected government and cultural diversity,” said Jennifer Benz, director of the AP-NORC Centre.
“But politics is cited more than any other factor as the cause of what divides the country,” according to a third of respondents, she added.

Just last week, the Trump administration stepped up its efforts to revoke the citizenship of naturalised Americans.
The US Justice Department filed lawsuits against 17 people accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud or concealing serious crimes, including a Chinese-born resident in the state of Georgia.
Questions surrounding what it means to be American will come under renewed scrutiny again when the Supreme Court rules on birthright citizenship in the coming weeks, a cornerstone of Trump’s second term agenda.
The US leader signed an executive order in early 2025 to end citizenship for children of undocumented parents or temporary visa holders.
The order was immediately blocked by federal courts, leading to the Supreme Court’s imminent ruling.
The survey found that AAPI adults and the general population largely agree on who is considered to be a US citizen.
“Most agree that children born to parents who are in the country legally on work visas should be citizens (81 per cent), and about half say the same about those who are born to parents in the country on tourist visas (56 per cent) and to parents who are in the country illegally (54 per cent),” according to survey organisers.
Additionally, the survey found that most AAPI adults consider it extremely or very important that immigrants living in America maintain their culture and traditions, while half see the US as one of the greatest countries in the world.
The findings suggest that many AAPI adults see the US moving away from its decadeslong reputation as a beacon for immigrants, said Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data.
“Nevertheless, most AAPIs still see cultural diversity as essential to American identity, and view maintenance of their culture and traditions as a high priority.”
The AP-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research and AAPI Data surveyed 1,075 Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults age 18 and older living in the US from April 20 to April 28 this year, with a margin of sampling error of +/- 4.4 percentage points.


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Only one-third still see America as a great place for immigrants, while many report changing behaviour under current administration


Only one-third still see America as a great place for immigrants, while many report changing behaviour under current administration.


AAPI survey finds fading faith in US as destination for immigrants amid Trump crackdown

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Only one-third still see America as a great place for immigrants, while many report changing behaviour under current administration

Only one-third still see America as a great place for immigrants, while many report changing behaviour under current administration