AAPI Community Expresses Concerns Over Trump's Immigration Policies

Mon Mar 23 2026 05:12:58 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A new poll indicates that a significant majority of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders view Trump's immigration strategies as damaging. Many call for reform in U.S. immigration policies amidst an atmosphere of increased deportations.

According to a recent AAPI Data/AP-NORC poll, most Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders believe President Trump's immigration policies have inflicted more harm than good. Around 60% of AAPI adults perceive Trump's actions on immigration and border security as detrimental. There's a strong sentiment against the harsh deportation strategies, with a majority advocating for more humane immigration practices and expressing significant disapproval of ICE operations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders believe President Donald Trump's immigration policies have caused more harm than good, as revealed by a recent AAPI Data/AP-NORC poll.

The survey found that about 60% of AAPI adults feel that Trump's administration has negatively impacted immigration and border security, compared to around 40% of the general American public. Additionally, about two-thirds of AAPI adults believe that Trump's deportation efforts have exceeded a reasonable limit, contrasting with approximately half of all Americans.

During Trump's second term, his administration has placed significant restrictions on immigration, including halting processing for immigrant visas from 75 countries just last January, amidst a backdrop of increasing arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The concerns surrounding these policies are palpable among the AAPI community, particularly after high-profile incidents of wrongful detainment and excessive use of force by ICE agents.

Jeff Ugai, a resident of Hawaii, expressed his dismay, stating that the administration seems more focused on cruelty than achieving a sensible immigration system. Meanwhile, demographic data indicates that AAPI adults largely oppose Trump's harsh immigration tactics and call for a reconsideration of enforcement methods, with a staggering 73% expressing unfavorable views towards ICE.

The poll surveyed 1,197 AAPI respondents from February 2-9, 2026, shedding light on the often underrepresented voices within these communities concerning immigration matters. The data demonstrates a significant divide regarding perceptions of immigrants' impacts on social welfare and public safety, with many AAPI individuals advocating for reform that supports compassionate treatment of immigrants and a reevaluation of current deportation policies.

The ongoing analysis of AAPI perspectives on immigration aims to generate a clearer understanding of how these policies affect their communities, fostering discussions around necessary reforms in the U.S. immigration landscape.