A recent poll reveals that many Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults have experienced significant disruptions linked to intensified immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The survey, conducted from April 20 to 28 among 1,075 AAPI adults across the United States, found that about half reported either personally encountering or knowing someone who faced detention or deportation within the past year. Many respondents also indicated carrying proof of immigration status or U.S. citizenship more consistently, altering travel plans, or making substantial changes to daily routines due to immigration concerns.

The heightened immigration crackdown, continuing beyond the Trump administration’s tenure, has coincided with multiple protests and enforcement actions, including two fatal shootings of U.S. citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year. These developments appear to have shifted perspectives within immigrant-heavy AAPI communities. Approximately 60% of respondents believe the U.S. was once a welcoming country for immigrants but no longer holds that status. Only about 30% view America as an advantageous place for immigrants today, and 5% felt it never was.

Despite growing skepticism about the country’s openness, AAPI adults were more likely than the general U.S. population to emphasize the importance of cultural diversity as a core aspect of national identity. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of AAPI adults described the blending of global cultures and values as “extremely” or “very” important to what defines the United States, compared with 55% among U.S. adults overall.

Legal immigrants have also faced uncertainty. Court rulings recently overturned policies that would have increased visa fees and blocked final decisions on immigration benefits for nationals from 39 countries, many within Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Regardless, some immigrants with legal status have adopted a “better safe than sorry” approach by carrying documentation more frequently. Khoa Tran, a naturalized citizen originally from Vietnam, noted that his wife began regularly carrying her green card after observing social media discussions emphasizing this caution. Additionally, concerns about visa issues have led some international students to postpone travel abroad.

The survey highlighted differences within the AAPI population by region of origin. South Asian adults were more likely than their East and Southeast Asian counterparts to report knowing someone who has started carrying immigration documentation. Analysts attribute this to the higher proportion of foreign-born individuals among South Asians and a widespread sense that their status in the U.S. is increasingly questioned.

Cultural identity emerged as a significant factor for many AAPI respondents. A majority consider their family’s country of origin or ancestry an important part of their personal identity—more so than their American identity. This pattern holds even for those born in the U.S., with 59% valuing heritage strongly compared with 47% emphasizing American identity. By contrast, a recent survey found that a majority of U.S. adults place more importance on being American than on ancestry.

Individual respondents expressed varying views on identity and the nation’s future. Abigail Jeyaraj, a 22-year-old South Asian American from Massachusetts, embraces both her Indian heritage and American nationality but expresses concern about recent political challenges to immigration and diversity. Meanwhile, Khoa Tran, a math teacher in Texas, questioned the relevance of the country’s 250th anniversary, emphasizing the continual evolution of the nation’s makeup over time.

The poll was carried out using NORC’s Amplify AAPI Panel, a probability-based sample intended to provide representative insights into the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations, groups often underrepresented in national surveys. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. This research is part of a broader effort to explore the attitudes and experiences of AAPI communities amid shifting immigration policies and social dynamics.