64% of AAPI say US no longer immigrant haven as DOJ sues to strip citizenship

For legal practitioners and regulators, the AP-NORC survey is a stark evidentiary snapshot of how current immigration enforcement and judicial uncertainty are reshaping constitutional norms. The DOJ's pursuit of denaturalization and the Supreme Court's impending birthright citizenship decision aren't abstract debates—they are actively dismantling the legal predictability that once made the US a magnet for talent.

A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey reveals a dramatic erosion of confidence among Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults in the United States as a destination for immigrants, with only one-third still viewing the country as a great place for immigrants, while 64% believe it used to be but is no longer. Released on June 15, 2026, just ahead of the nation's 250th independence anniversary, the findings crystallize the chilling effect of President Donald Trump's second-term immigration crackdown on a community that has historically been a cornerstone of US economic and cultural vitality.

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The survey's behavioral data is stark: 41% of AAPI adults say they have started carrying proof of immigration status or citizenship, or know someone who has, and 34% report changing travel plans because of immigration concerns.

The survey's behavioral data is stark: 41% of AAPI adults say they have started carrying proof of immigration status or citizenship, or know someone who has, and 34% report changing travel plans because of immigration concerns. More broadly, half of all respondents said they or someone they know has altered their behavior due to immigration status. These numbers reflect an atmosphere of pervasive fear and uncertainty fostered by aggressive enforcement actions, including widely publicized ICE operations in cities nationwide and new legal assaults on the citizenship of naturalized Americans.

The legal landscape underpinning this sentiment shift is multi-layered. The Trump administration's Department of Justice has just filed denaturalization lawsuits against 17 individuals accused of obtaining citizenship through fraud or concealing serious crimes, including a Chinese-born resident in Georgia. While these cases target specific alleged misconduct, they send a broader signal that citizenship—once considered secure—can be revisited and revoked, amplifying anxiety even among lawful permanent residents and naturalized citizens. Simultaneously, the Supreme Court is poised to rule on the constitutionality of birthright citizenship, a fundamental tenet of American identity since the 14th Amendment's ratification in 1868. The mere pendency of such a challenge, unprecedented in modern jurisprudence, injects profound legal uncertainty into the status of millions born on US soil to non-citizen parents.

Jennifer Benz, director of the AP-NORC Center, noted that AAPI adults value the American dream, democratic government, and cultural diversity, but politics is now cited by 33% of respondents as the primary factor dividing the country. This politicization of immigration has practical consequences: highly skilled workers on H-1B visas, international students, and entrepreneurs from Asia—who have powered Silicon Valley and academic research—are re-evaluating their long-term commitment to the US. The survey suggests a growing readiness to explore alternative destinations like Canada, Australia, or even return to home countries, potentially accelerating a brain drain that could undermine US competitiveness in technology and innovation.