A recent survey reveals a growing perception among Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults that the United States is no longer a welcoming destination for immigrants, a shift coinciding with intensified immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s second term. The findings emerge ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence next month.

According to the poll conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 64 percent of AAPI adults believe the United States used to be a great place for immigrants but no longer holds that status. Only one in three respondents still view the country as a favorable environment for immigrants today. The sentiment reflects concerns about recent policy actions targeting both legal and undocumented immigrants.

The survey indicates that 41 percent of AAPI adults say they have either started carrying proof of their immigration status or citizenship or know someone who has taken this step. Additionally, 34 percent reported personally changing travel plans or knowing someone who did so because of immigration status issues. Half of AAPI respondents acknowledged altering their behavior or knowing others who changed their actions due to immigration-related concerns.

Since resuming office, President Trump has prioritized stricter immigration enforcement, prompting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to conduct operations in multiple U.S. cities. Most recently, the Justice Department filed lawsuits against 17 individuals accused of obtaining citizenship fraudulently or concealing serious offenses. Among those targeted was a Chinese-born resident of Georgia, highlighting the administration’s intensified focus on revoking naturalized citizenship in cases of alleged fraud.

The debate over who qualifies as a U.S. citizen is expected to intensify as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the issue of birthright citizenship—an issue at the heart of Trump’s immigration agenda. The president issued an executive order last year aiming to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are undocumented or on temporary visas, though federal courts have so far blocked its implementation.

Despite differing political views, the survey found broad agreement among AAPI respondents and the general population on citizenship criteria. A large majority (81 percent) supported citizenship for children born to parents legally residing in the country on work visas. More than half supported citizenship for children born to parents on tourist visas (56 percent) and those born to parents residing in the country illegally (54 percent).

Jennifer Benz, director of the AP-NORC Center, noted that AAPI adults continue to value foundational aspects of American identity such as the American Dream, a democratically elected government, and cultural diversity. Nevertheless, political divisions were cited by about one-third of respondents as a primary factor fracturing national unity.

Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data, commented that the survey results suggest many AAPI adults view the United States as drifting away from its longstanding reputation as a beacon for immigrants amid heightened immigration enforcement and policy uncertainty.