“Across the U.S., A/PI adults of all ethnicities and statuses are feeling the weight of anti-immigrant policies and political rhetoric”
This May marks Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, which honors the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander neighbors who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success. These individuals include millions of immigrant community members, accounting for more than 30% of the United States’ total foreign-born population as of 2023.
“U.S. immigration from Asia has a long and complex history,” the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) said last year. “Starting in the mid-19th century, immigrants from Asia came primarily from China, Japan, Korea, and the Philippines for agricultural and construction work. However, after a series of restrictions targeting first Chinese immigration (the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act) and then immigration from everywhere but Northern and Western Europe (the National Origins Acts of 1921 and 1924), immigration from Asia quickly ground to a halt.”
It would be a century after the Chinese Exclusion Act that immigrants from Asia would finally be allowed to migrate to the U.S. beyond a trickle, as we’ve previously noted.
Today, Asia accounts for “the second largest region of origin for immigration to the United States, after Latin America, accounting for 31 percent (or 14.6 million) of all 47.8 million foreign-born residents as of 2023,” MPI continued. AANHPI immigrants also make up a significant portion of the nation’s total undocumented population, accounting for 1.7 million of the 11 million individuals who currently lack legal status overall, according to Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
Despite AANHPI immigrants’ vast contributions to the U.S. – including $167.9 billion in federal income taxes and almost $72.5 billion in state and local taxes annually, according to the American Immigration Council – the ICE arrests of these community members are almost four times what they were under the past administration, according to data compiled by STOP AAPI Hate.
That data reveals that from January to October 2025, 7,752 ICE arrests, 7,243 detentions, and 2,776 deportations involved AANHPI individuals, some of whom were deported to so-called third countries where they have no ties, STOP AAPI HATE said. “Chinese, Indian, and Vietnamese immigrants are among those sent to Ecuador, Eswatini, and Sudan — which have horrific human rights records.”
But the human rights record here at home is nothing any decent person should be proud of. Under the current administration, ICE has seen its deadliest in-custody death rate in two decades. “Under President Trump, 41 people died in ICE custody, including 9 Asian immigrants,” STOP AAPI HATE said.
Nor have AANHPI U.S. citizens been immune from the economy-busting mass deportation agenda prioritized by this administration, which is currently seeking another $70 billion in funding with zero guardrails. This past January, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Hmong descent was dragged out of his home into the bitter Minnesota cold in nothing but his underwear, Crocs, and a thin open blanket. ChongLy Thao was not even a target of ICE’s operation and was swept nearly-naked in freezing cold weather “simply because he’s Asian,” independent journalist Marisa Kabas noted at the time.
“Though he ended up being returned, the damage is done and the message has been sent: If you’re not white, you’re not safe,” she wrote.
The administration’s nativist agenda has had profound impacts across AANHPI communities. “In a January 2026 national survey conducted with NORC at the University of Chicago, we found that half of A/PI adults in the U.S. said they or another person in their community (e.g., friends, family, and coworkers) were impacted by anti-immigrant policies or sentiment in the past year,” STOP AAPI HATE continued.
Data collected by the organization further revealed that 24% of survey respondents said that they’re facing economic or education repercussions, 39% said they’re withdrawing from public life, and 45% said they feel overall less secure in the United States. Many have been experiencing mental health issues over the attacks as well, the research found. “Respondents who report feeling the impact of Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda are 1.9 times more likely to experience higher rates of moderate or severe anxiety and depression.”
“The numbers tell a story, but so do the people behind them,” STOP AAPI Hate continued. “Across the U.S., A/PI adults of all ethnicities and statuses are feeling the weight of anti-immigrant policies and political rhetoric. Not even citizens are immune from the fear and uncertainty that the Trump administration has unleashed.”
“The good news is: we’re prepared to do something about it. 67% of U.S.-based A/PI adults said they are motivated to protect immigrant communities.” The organization is helping track anti-AANHPI bigotry by urging community members to report instances of hate here.
This AANHPI Heritage Month, we are celebrating the resilience and history of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.From the Supreme Court in 1898 to the Supreme Court in 2026, AANHPI leaders and organizations have never stopped defending the 14th Amendment.
— America's Voice (@americasvoice.bsky.social) 2026-05-14T14:40:33.671Z
The defense of Asian Americans was a major theme in celebratory statements from federal lawmakers, who noted that their presence “long predates America’s founding.” AANHPI community members, they said, have explored space, have been some of the most decorated military service members in U.S. history, have helped transform union rights, and, in the late 19th century, were critical in completing the Transcontinental Railroad, which was pivotal in “helping transform the nation’s economy.” The Labor Department has previously called its completion “one of the greatest engineering feats in American history.”
“This year’s celebration precedes the 250th anniversary of the United States—a historic milestone and an opportunity to honor the generations of AANHPIs who have helped build and strengthen this nation,” said Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Grace Meng (D-NY). “Our presence long predates America’s founding, beginning with the first recorded arrival of Filipinos in what is now the continental United States at Morro Bay in 1587.”
“Since then, our communities have played a vital role in shaping our nation. From the Asian immigrants who fought in the Revolutionary War to the Indian American astronauts who have pushed the boundaries of space exploration, our contributions can be seen in every facet of society. Our history is American history, and it deserves to be recognized as such—especially at a time when our nation’s leaders seek to diminish or erase it.”
“As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I remain committed to improving the lives of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders across the nation,” Rep. Meng continued. “CAPAC will continue fighting for a future where every person—no matter where they come from, what they look like, or how they pray—can live with dignity, safety, and prosperity.”
