WASHINGTON — A new poll indicates that immigration is a top concern for many Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders as the government looks to address this issue in the coming year. However, these groups appear to be deeply divided on the specific actions they believe President Trump should undertake upon resuming his position in the White House.
Released on Wednesday, the survey from AAPI Data and the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that while there has been a slight increase in Trump’s favorability among AAPI adults since the election, the majority still hold negative views of him. Interestingly, the poll reveals a lack of consensus regarding one of his key immigration policies: approximately 40% of AAPI adults support the deportation of all undocumented immigrants in the U.S., while an equal percentage opposes this notion, with the remainder remaining neutral in their stance.
This survey is part of a larger initiative that aims to emphasize the perspectives of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders—a demographic often overlooked in other studies due to limited sample sizes and insufficient linguistic representation.
The poll results emerge just days before Trump’s inauguration, during which he plans an ambitious strategy involving over 100 executive orders concerning border security, deportation, and various other policies that will take effect on his first day in office. Lawmakers across the country are expressing their intentions to either back or resist Trump’s agenda based on their political affiliations.
In recent months, immigration has increasingly surfaced as a pressing concern for AAPI adults. About 40% of respondents identified immigration and border matters as one of the top five priorities the federal government should address in 2025, reflecting a rise from roughly 30% who viewed it as important a year prior. This trend parallels a wider sentiment among the general U.S. population; around half of Americans indicate that immigration should be a key focus this year, an increase from about one-third who felt the same heading into 2024.
Calvin Do, a 38-year-old Seattle resident who switched from Democrat to Libertarian over a decade ago, suggests that supporting deportation doesn’t equate to being “anti-immigrant.” He recognizes the aspirations of individuals seeking better opportunities but believes that illegally entering the country undermines the struggles of his immigrant parents. “There are many talented and good-hearted people out there, but the issue is, you didn’t follow the proper channels,” Do explained.
Karthick Ramakrishnan, the founder and executive director of AAPI Data, raises the question of whether immigration will remain a priority for AAPI adults or if their focus will evolve. A prior poll also indicated that while AAPI adults largely align with public sentiment on undocumented immigrants, they tend to recognize more advantages from legal immigration.
“As we move forward over the next four years, keeping an eye on how these priorities shift will be crucial. Notably, we are witnessing a transition regarding immigration,” Ramakrishnan stated. The discourse surrounding immigration during the election might have propelled this focus, compounded by Republican-led states transporting immigrants to Democrat-run cities.
However, immigration is not the sole concern of AAPI adults. Approximately 75% emphasize the economy as a primary issue for the government to tackle in 2025, aligning with the general public’s views. Furthermore, around 30% express the need for action on climate change, and about half believe that abortion and reproductive rights could face significant challenges in the future.
Nilay Patel, a 32-year-old Indian American from Chicago, advocates for prioritizing issues such as inflation, climate change, and reproductive rights over immigration. Although he does not oppose deportation, he insists that it should be conducted thoughtfully rather than indiscriminately targeting individuals who may appear immigrant.
The poll reveals that AAPI adults have a somewhat improved view of Trump compared to pre-election sentiments; however, feelings toward his return are mixed. Trump’s favorability has grown about ten percentage points among these adults, yet roughly 60% still view him unfavorably. Many respondents expressed feelings of fear or anger regarding his second term, with only a minority feeling satisfied or excited.
Even within AAPI Republicans, there’s a notable portion—about 20%—who feel apprehensive about Trump’s presidency. Do mentions that discussions about political views seem increasingly unmanageable, noting a preference for unity rather than division. “It’s disheartening to witness people fighting amongst themselves. Each community has its strengths and weaknesses; we simply need to find common ground,” Do remarked.
The poll surveyed 1,045 U.S. adults identifying as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander between December 9-17, 2024. The sample was drawn from NORC’s probability-based Amplify AAPI Panel, with the intention of accurately reflecting the AAPI demographic. Interviews were conducted online and by phone in multiple languages, including English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean, with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.9 percentage points.
