In Washington, a new survey sheds light on the generational divide among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) regarding U.S. immigration policies, particularly mass deportations. The study, conducted by AAPI Data alongside the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, indicates that older AANHPIs, many of whom have immigrant backgrounds, hold stricter views on illegal immigration than their younger counterparts.
The data reveals that only 20% of AANHPIs under the age of 30 support deporting all immigrants residing illegally in the U.S., while a little more than half of those aged 60 and over endorse this approach. This division is more pronounced than among the broader U.S. public, with younger AANHPIs being less supportive of harsh measures than youthful Americans in general, and older AANHPIs showing a slightly higher inclination towards deportations compared to older Americans.
Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data, noted the societal sentiments post-election time, emphasizing that among AANHPIs, some believe resources should not extend to individuals remaining unlawfully in the U.S. He expressed surprise at the strong stance from older AANHPIs, considering their immigrant experiences might have suggested a more lenient view.
The study aims to highlight the perspectives of AANHPIs, often overlooked due to language barriers or insufficient sample sizes in general surveys. Findings showed that just 15% of AANHPIs under 30 deem deportations a high federal priority, contrasting sharply with four in ten individuals aged 60 and above.
Older generations in this demographic display little tolerance for illegal entry, particularly when it involves a criminal background. An impressive majority, around 90%, of seniors support the deportation of undocumented individuals with violent crime convictions, while about 70% agree on evicting those convicted of nonviolent offenses like theft.
An example of these views is Mike Nakawatase, a 62-year-old Republican from California. He staunchly backs President Trump’s border policies and favors deportation of immigrants with criminal records, arguing that those not contributing positively should not be permitted to remain.
Conversely, younger AANHPIs display resistance toward mass deportations purely based on criminal history. Although they recognize the potential need for deportations, many urge a thorough examination inclusive of context, such as crime-committed age. A noteworthy voice is college student Cecil Wuggle, who advocates for fair trials over automatic expulsions.
National sentiment reflects a division on immigration handling, with a notable portion of older AANHPIs aligning with President Trump’s immigration strategies. Yet, only a fraction of AANHPIs under 30 hold favorable views of his policies. When touching on severe measures like family separation for deportees, younger generations show strong opposition, fearing the emotional repercussions for children.
Current debates like birthright citizenship restrictions continue to unravel. The survey reveals a split among AANHPIs on ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented parents, with some support for modifying rules under specific conditions, such as if parents hold temporary visas.
Nakawatase remains unsure about fully revoking birthright citizenship but expresses openness to the policy for children of parents on valid temporary visas.
This poll conducted interviews with a representative sample of 1,182 AANHPIs between March 4-10, 2025. The survey included both online and phone interviews in various languages to ensure comprehensive insights and carries a margin of error of ±4.7 percentage points.