Hey everyone, here’s the scoop from HA Viewpoint.
A new survey just dropped, and it’s painting a pretty grim picture. After watching all those tough immigration moves by the Trump administration, most Asian American adults are feeling like the US isn’t the welcoming place for immigrants it used to be.
According to an Associated Press poll released on June 15, 41% of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adult respondents say they’ve started carrying proof of their immigration or citizenship status, or know someone who does. Meanwhile, 34% say they’ve changed their travel plans because of their immigration status.
Here’s the thing: the AAPI community is one of the fastest-growing groups in the US, and most of them were born abroad.
But this survey, which ran from April 20 to 28, found that a whopping 64% of AAPI adults think the US used to be a great place for immigrants, but it’s not anymore. Only about three in ten still believe America is a good destination for newcomers.
And get this—another 5% of respondents said the US was never a good place for immigrants in the first place.
The poll also showed that a majority (59%) of AAPI adults feel it’s “extremely important” or “very important” for immigrants living in the US to hold onto their own cultures and traditions. They believe cultural diversity is at the heart of American identity.
“America’s success relies heavily on the role of Asian Americans, on the role of all immigrants,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and executive director of AAPI Data. “When people who have lived in this country for decades say, ‘I’m not really sure this is still the best country,’ that’s a warning sign.”
Ramakrishnan warned that the survey results show many AAPI folks feel the US is drifting away from its reputation as a “beacon for immigrants.”
In April, protesters expressed dissatisfaction during the Supreme Court oral arguments on “birthright citizenship.” Photo via IC
Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post noted that President Trump has made immigration a target in his second term, tightening policies that affect everyone from undocumented immigrants to students and high-skilled workers. Since Trump returned to the White House, ICE has carried out enforcement actions in several US cities.
Even immigrants with legal status have felt the pinch. Just last week, the Trump administration ramped up efforts to try to revoke the citizenship of naturalized Americans.
In the coming weeks, the Supreme Court will rule on “birthright citizenship.” Trump signed an executive order in early 2025 to end citizenship for children of undocumented parents or those on temporary visas. That order was immediately blocked by federal courts and has now been appealed to the Supreme Court.
Abigail Jeyaraj, a 22-year-old South Asian American born in Texas, feels conflicted about celebrating America’s 250th Independence Day (July 4) due to the Trump administration’s restrictions on immigration and DEI initiatives.
“I’m proud of what our country has achieved in the past,” Jeyaraj told the AP. “But recently, some actors are trying to undo that progress. They might think they’re restoring some ideal, but it’s actually erasing the efforts of many who pushed America toward equality and justice.”
For Khoa Tran, a Vietnamese American, the 250th anniversary of independence means nothing.
He said bluntly: “I don’t think America was ‘founded’ at a specific point in time… Native Americans have lived here for a long time. I’m pretty sure it’s way more than 250 years.”
