Poll: Half of AAPI Adults Report Immigration Enforcement Effects; 6 in 10 Say U.S. No Longer Great for Immigrants

A new AP-NORC/AAPI Data poll released Monday shows about half of Asian American and Pacific Islander adults say they or someone they know have been detained or deported within the last year. S. citizenship and altering travel plans or daily routines because of immigration status.

A majority of AAPI adults, about 6 in 10, say the United States used to be a great country for immigrants but is not anymore. About 3 in 10 say America remains a great place for immigrants, while 5% say it never was. The poll was conducted after more than a year of immigration crackdowns.

It found AAPI adults more likely than Americans overall to view the mixing of cultures and values from around the world as central to the country’s identity. Khoa Tran, 27, of San Antonio, Texas, came to the United States from Vietnam in 2015 at age 15 and gained citizenship in 2019. He is among those who have legal status yet still navigate the effects of enforcement policies.

One policy that would have raised fees for certain visas was struck down in federal court in June 2026. A judge also struck down a policy that categorically barred immigrants from 39 Asian, African, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries from receiving final decisions on asylum, work permit, green card and citizenship applications.

Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and executive director of AAPI Data, said America’s success story has depended critically on the role of Asian Americans and immigrants in general.

He added that when people who have been in the country for decades say they are unsure it remains the best country, that signals a warning.