NextFin news, On October 15, 2025, a comprehensive poll conducted by AAPI Data in partnership with the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed that a substantial majority of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults disapprove of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. The survey, which sampled 1,027 AAPI adults across the United States from September 2 to 9, 2025, found that 71% of respondents disapprove of Trump’s handling of immigration, marking a notable increase from 58% disapproval recorded six months earlier. The poll also highlighted that two-thirds of AAPI adults believe the current deportation policies have gone too far.
The poll explored specific enforcement tactics employed by the Trump administration, including targeting immigrant-heavy neighborhoods, deploying military or National Guard forces for immigration arrests, workplace detentions, and allowing immigration agents to conceal their identities during operations. Approximately 60% of AAPI adults opposed these measures, with only about 20% supporting them. While half of the respondents favored deporting undocumented immigrants charged with misdemeanors, support dropped sharply for deporting all undocumented immigrants (35%), those expressing dissenting views (30%), or those residing in the U.S. for over a decade (24%).
Demographic nuances emerged within the AAPI community. Foreign-born AAPI adults, who tend to be older and less Democratic-leaning, showed relatively higher approval rates for Trump’s immigration policies (33% vs. 22% for U.S.-born AAPI adults) and were more supportive of broad deportation measures. Conversely, U.S.-born AAPI adults demonstrated stronger opposition. Compared to the general U.S. population, AAPI adults were more likely to perceive Trump’s immigration enforcement as excessive (67% vs. 49%).
The poll also contextualized immigration within broader issue priorities for AAPI adults. While immigration remains important to 63% of respondents, economic concerns such as inflation, jobs, and cost of living dominate the community’s agenda. Notably, 75% of AAPI adults view President Trump unfavorably overall, with immigration being one of the key issues driving this sentiment.
These findings come amid President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration enforcement since his inauguration in January 2025. The administration’s policies have included increased deportations, expanded ICE operations, and controversial use of military resources in immigration enforcement, which have sparked widespread debate and opposition within immigrant communities.
The poll methodology involved a representative sample of the U.S. AAPI population, with interviews conducted in English and major Asian languages including Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean, ensuring inclusivity and accuracy in capturing community perspectives. The margin of error stands at +/- 5 percentage points.
The growing disapproval of Trump’s immigration policies among AAPI adults can be attributed to several factors. First, the community’s diverse immigrant backgrounds and experiences foster heightened sensitivity to aggressive immigration enforcement, which many perceive as threatening family stability and community cohesion. The opposition to militarized immigration tactics reflects concerns over civil liberties and racial profiling.
Second, the data reveal generational and ethnic heterogeneity within the AAPI population. Foreign-born and older AAPI adults, particularly Filipino and Vietnamese Americans, tend to be more conservative and supportive of stricter immigration controls, possibly influenced by their unique migration histories and political orientations. In contrast, younger and U.S.-born AAPI adults lean more progressive, emphasizing immigrant rights and social justice.
Third, the broader political climate under President Trump’s administration, characterized by heightened nationalism and restrictive immigration rhetoric, has alienated many AAPI voters who prioritize inclusive policies and economic opportunity. The community’s strong emphasis on economic stability and affordable living conditions further complicates their stance, as immigration policies intersect with labor market dynamics and social services access.
The implications of these findings are multifaceted. Politically, the pronounced disapproval among AAPI adults could influence electoral outcomes in key battleground states with significant AAPI populations, such as California, New York, and Texas. The community’s growing political engagement and mobilization around immigration and economic issues may reshape party strategies and candidate platforms ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
From a policy perspective, the data suggest that aggressive immigration enforcement may be counterproductive in garnering support from a critical and rapidly growing demographic. Policymakers may need to recalibrate approaches to balance enforcement with humanitarian considerations and community trust-building.
Looking forward, the trend of increasing disapproval among AAPI adults is likely to persist if current immigration policies remain unchanged or intensify. The community’s diverse viewpoints also indicate potential for nuanced policy debates and coalition-building across ethnic and generational lines. Additionally, as economic concerns continue to dominate, immigration discourse may increasingly intertwine with broader social and economic policy discussions.
In conclusion, the new AAPI Data/AP-NORC poll underscores a significant shift in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community’s perception of President Trump’s immigration policies, reflecting broader societal tensions and evolving political dynamics. Understanding these complex attitudes is essential for stakeholders aiming to engage effectively with the AAPI electorate and address the multifaceted challenges of immigration policy in 2025 and beyond.
According to the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and AAPI Data, this poll represents one of the most comprehensive assessments of AAPI political attitudes in the current administration’s term, providing critical insights for policymakers, political strategists, and community advocates.
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