WASHINGTON (AP) – A recent poll highlights significant generational divides among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) regarding the U.S. government's approach to mass deportations. The survey, conducted by AAPI Data and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, reveals that older AAPI adults, many of whom are immigrants themselves, hold a much stricter stance on illegal immigration compared to their younger counterparts.
The findings demonstrate that only 20% of AAPI adults under the age of 30 support the deportation of all immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, contrasted with just over half (approximately 51%) of AAPI adults aged 60 and older who advocate for such measures. This generational gap is more pronounced than the divide observed among the general American population. Younger AAPI adults exhibit less support for hardline immigration policies compared to broader trends among young Americans, while older AAPI adults show slightly more inclination towards supporting mass deportations than older Americans in general.
Amidst recent election cycles marked by rigid immigration rhetoric, many in the AAPI community express concern that the nation lacks the resources to support individuals residing in the U.S. illegally. Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data and a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, notes that this generational split challenges the conventional belief that older immigrants would adopt a more compassionate view towards current immigrants due to their own experiences. The data suggests that older AAPI adults, who may have distanced themselves from their own migration experiences, display less sympathy towards those in the U.S. illegally. In contrast, younger AAPI adults, who are more likely to be native-born, request a more lenient approach to immigration.
The poll further indicates that younger AAPI adults prioritize mass deportations significantly lower than older adults. Only about 15% of AAPI adults under 30 regard the deportation of illegal immigrants as a high priority for the federal government, whereas around 40% of AAPI adults aged 60 and older share this view. Older AAPI adults tend to adopt a harsher perspective on individuals who enter the U.S. unlawfully, particularly those with criminal backgrounds. Approximately 90% of AAPI adults in the 60+ age group either somewhat or strongly support the deportation of immigrants who have been convicted of violent crimes, and 70% extend this view to those convicted of nonviolent offenses like shoplifting or burglary.
An example is Mike Nakawatase, a 62-year-old Republican from Torrance, California, who asserts a zero-tolerance policy regarding illegal immigrants, specifically those with criminal histories. Nakawatase, a Japanese American, believes that individuals who are not contributing to society should be deported. On the other hand, younger AAPI adults display hesitance towards mass deportation policies, even for those with criminal records. Only about two-thirds of AAPI adults under 30 favor deporting all immigrants illegally residing in the U.S. who have been convicted of violent crimes, and even fewer—around 40%—support such measures for nonviolent offenses.
Cecil Wuggle, a 20-year-old college student from West Palm Beach, Florida, emphasizes the necessity of a thorough examination of an individual's situation before automatic deportation for crimes committed. Wuggle, who identifies as a Democrat, is particularly opposed to mass deportation based solely on criminal history, advocating for fairness and the opportunity for a fair trial.
Currently, immigration policy remains a strong suit for former President Donald Trump, with half of the general U.S. adult population approving his approach, which aligns with older AAPI adults' views. However, only about 30% of AAPI adults under 30 view Trump's immigration methods positively, with younger adults strongly opposing certain hardline tactics, such as deportations that would separate immigrants from their American-born children.
On an important note, about one-third of AAPI adults support changing the constitutional right to birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to unlawfully residing parents, while approximately 25% support ending birthright citizenship for children of parents on temporary visas. Nakawatase expresses ambivalence about stripping citizenship from children of undocumented parents, although he is somewhat more receptive to this idea if the parents possess temporary work or student visas.
This comprehensive poll, conducted between March 4-10, 2025, involved 1,182 U.S. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander adults, utilizing the probability-based Amplify AAPI Panel to ensure representativeness. Interviews were conducted online and via telephone in multiple languages, including English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.7 percentage points.
