Most AAPI adults say America has lost its standing as a place for immigrants: poll

Most Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults say the U.S. no longer lives up to its reputation as a place where immigrants can build a better life. A new AAPI Data/AP-NORC poll found that 64% believe the country “used to be a great place for immigrants but is not anymore,” while 30% say it remains one.

Conducted in April among 1,075 AAPI adults, the survey was released as the U.S. prepares to mark its 250th anniversary. Its findings arrive amid the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration agenda, including expanded arrests and detention, mass deportations and a challenge to birthright citizenship.

A separate national AP-NORC poll found that 61% of U.S. adults overall believe the country used to be a great place for immigrants but is not anymore, while 27% say it remains a great place for immigrants.

Immigration concerns are extending beyond politics and into daily life for many AAPI families. Fifty-one percent of respondents said they or someone they know had carried proof of immigration status or citizenship, changed travel plans, significantly altered daily routines or experienced detention or deportation because of immigration status during the previous 12 months.

Among those surveyed, 41% said they or someone they know had started carrying proof of citizenship or immigration status, compared with 25% of Americans overall. Another 34% reported changing travel plans because of immigration concerns, nearly double the national figure of 18%. Twenty-two percent said they or someone they know had significantly changed routines, while 10% reported knowing someone who had been detained or deported.

Some immigrants have reportedly begun carrying passports, green cards and naturalization documents more frequently because of concerns about immigration enforcement. According to recent Stop AAPI Hate data, ICE arrests of people from Asian and Pacific Islander countries nearly quadrupled under President Donald Trump, rising from 1,998 in January through October 2024 to 7,752 during the same period in 2025.

Many respondents continue to associate the U.S. with opportunity, yet fewer believe the country still delivers on that promise for immigrants. Sixty-six percent said the ability of people to come to the U.S. to escape violence or find economic opportunity is an important part of the nation’s identity.

“America’s success story has depended critically on the role of Asian Americans, but also immigrants in general,” AAPI Data founder and Executive Director Karthick Ramakrishnan said in a statement. “When you have people who are already in this country, have been here for decades saying, ‘I’m not really sure that this is the best country anymore,’ that’s a warning sign.”

Gallup’s latest migration survey found only 15% of prospective migrants worldwide selected the U.S. as their preferred destination in 2025, down from 24% between 2007 and 2009.

Asked what defines the U.S., respondents pointed most often to opportunity, democracy and cultural diversity. The ability to achieve the American dream was viewed as an important part of the country’s identity by 80% of respondents, while 79% cited a democratically elected government and 73% pointed to the mixing of cultures and values from around the world.

Maintaining cultural traditions remained important for many respondents, with 58% saying it is extremely or very important for immigrants living in the U.S. to preserve their culture and traditions. English fluency was considered important by 54%, while 49% said maintaining a home language matters and 48% said immigrants should blend into American society.

Birthright citizenship also drew majority support across multiple scenarios. Children born in the U.S. to parents legally in the country on work visas should automatically receive citizenship, according to 81% of respondents. The share was 56% for children born to parents on tourist visas and 54% for those born to parents living in the country illegally.