AAPI Adults Discontent with Trump’s Immigration Policies, Survey Reveals

Mon Mar 23 2026 06:33:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A recent poll indicates that a significant majority of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders perceive President Trump's immigration policies as harmful, particularly regarding enforcement tactics and deportations.

According to a new poll from AAPI Data and the AP-NORC Center, about 60% of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) believe that President Trump's immigration policies have done more harm than good. The survey reveals strong discontent over aggressive deportation practices, with many respondents favoring a more humane approach to immigration policy that does not prioritize deportation of long-term residents or family members of U.S. citizens.

Recent polling data reveals that the majority of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) reflect unfavorable views towards President Trump's immigration policies, particularly in the wake of his second term. Conducted by AAPI Data in collaboration with the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, the survey shows that approximately 60% of AAPI adults believe Trump’s strategies on immigration and border security have brought more harm than benefits.

The findings indicate that these demographics are increasingly critical of policies perceived as overly punitive, with two-thirds of respondents stating that Trump has gone too far in his attempts to deport immigrants living illegally in the U.S. This sentiment is notably more pronounced within the AAPI community compared to the general American population.

Trump’s administration has enacted a series of strict immigration measures, notably suspending visa processing for citizens from 75 countries and witnessing a dramatic rise in arrests by immigration officials, although overall apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border have decreased.

In Hawaii, the effects of such measures are deeply felt, with individuals like Jeff Ugai expressing concerns over the inhumane nature of these crackdowns. Ugai cited examples of recent immigration raids in his community as emblematic of a broader trend of cruelty rather than effective immigration reform.

The survey also illustrates the division among AAPI adults regarding the prioritization of deportations, with about 40% suggesting that deporting undocumented immigrants should be a low priority for the government. Particularly, this perspective appears to be shifting towards favoring pathways to citizenship for long-term residents.

While some respondents still view illegal immigration as a significant threat to societal welfare, opinions vary widely, reflecting the nuanced perspectives within the AAPI community. The survey underscores the ongoing challenges in effectively representing these voices in national discussions around immigration policy.

The poll, undertaken from February 2-9, 2026, involved 1,197 AAPI adults and holds a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percentage points. As a continuously evolving demographic, AAPI concerns on immigration remain critical in shaping future policies.