AAPI poll flags shift in immigrant trust

What's happened

AAPI Data and AP-NORC poll finds about half of Asian American and Pacific Islander adults say they or someone they know has felt immigration pressure in the past year, with many carrying proof of status and changing routines. The survey shows most view the U.S. as no longer a great country for immigrants, while many identify strongly with their heritage. South Asian communities show higher exposure to these concerns.

What's behind the headline?

Analysis

• The data indicate a broad reframing of what it means to belong in the United States among AAPI communities. As enforcement intensifies, trust in the system erodes even among those with status.
• The shift is visible in concrete behavior: carrying documentation, reframing travel, and altering routines. These changes could have broader social and economic repercussions as immigrant communities reduce cross-border ties and participation in certain activities.
• The narrative foregrounds identity alongside policy, showing that cultural heritage remains a strong anchor even as practical concerns rise. This complicates the traditional immigrant success story and suggests long-term implications for civic integration.
• Next steps likely include continued legal challenges to policies and potential shifts in political engagement among AAPI voters as perceptions of opportunity evolve.

How we got here

The AP-NORC/AAPI Data poll, released this week, chronicles attitudes among a growing, immigrant-rich demographic in the U.S. It follows a year of intensified immigration enforcement and court challenges to policy changes. The findings highlight how legal status holders and naturalized citizens are reassessing daily life amid policy shifts.

Our analysis

AP News; Independent Business

Go deeper

• What policy changes have most influenced these attitudes?
• Will immersion in U.S. life change if enforcement remains high?
• How are South Asian communities differently affected?

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