A tightening web of border restrictions and municipal enforcement measures has fundamentally altered the daily lives of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across the United States. A new study released by AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that half of all AAPI adults have experienced or witnessed significant disruption due to federal immigration policies over the past year.
The statistical findings point to a profound shift in how one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in the United States perceives the nation. According to the data, roughly six in ten AAPI adults now believe that while America used to serve as a great country for immigrants, it no longer does.
Documenting a Climate of Fear
The study reveals that federal enforcement strategies are creating a defensive reaction within immigrant communities, affecting even those individuals who hold permanent legal status or naturalised citizenship. Approximately fifty per cent of respondents stated that they, or someone they know closely, have taken defensive measures over the past twelve months. These actions include carrying constant physical proof of citizenship on the street, altering regular travel plans, or completely changing daily commuting routes to avoid authorities.
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Karthick Ramakrishnan, the founder and executive director of AAPI Data, noted that the trend should serve as an immediate warning sign for national policy makers. “America’s success story has depended critically on the role of Asian Americans, but also immigrants in general,” Ramakrishnan explained. “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 any more,’ that’s a warning sign.”
The anxiety is particularly pronounced among South Asian communities, who are statistically more likely to be foreign-born. The survey found that half of South Asian adults know someone who felt compelled to start carrying citizenship papers this year, compared to forty per cent of the broader AAPI population. Legal immigrants describe treating green cards as an essential second form of photo identification alongside their standard driving licences.
Broken Progress and Divided Identities
The political climate has complicated how younger generations of immigrants view their place in the country, especially as the United States marks its 250th anniversary this year. The poll indicates that seventy-three per cent of AAPI adults view global multiculturalism as foundational to the American identity, compared to fifty-five per cent of the wider domestic population.
However, ongoing legal battles over visa fees and asylum restrictions have dampened the desire to participate in national celebrations. Many younger respondents expressed a deep sense of ambivalence, arguing that recent administrative actions are actively trying to dismantle decades of hard-won progress toward structural equality and racial justice.
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This friction has also intensified the importance of heritage over nationality. The poll found that fifty-one per cent of AAPI adults view their family’s ancestral origin as the primary element of their personal identity, compared to forty-four per cent who prioritise their American identity. Even among individuals born inside the United States, fifty-nine per cent reported that their cultural heritage matters more to who they are than their official passport.
While naturalised citizens express a firm long-term commitment to living and working within their local communities, many emphasise that personal identity remains a separate, deeply complex question.
