By the Numbers: Immigration

AAPI Data Guide on Timely Policy Issues

This resource guide is designed to provide key insights and perspectives on the issue of immigration in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. 

This guide is part of a larger collection of issue-based resources that highlight key policy insights, data and survey findings that help inform how our diverse AANHPI communities think about, and are affected by, particular issues.

Please check aapidata.com/resource-guides frequently for new resource guides like this one.

Published: Jan 9, 2025 | Last updated: July 30, 2026

Click below to jump to a specific topic or issue:

Executive Summary

Key Facts You Need to Know: Immigration in AANHPI Communities

  1. Asian Americans are the only racial group that is majority foreign-born (65%). Any changes to immigration policy will disproportionately impact Asian Americans.
  2. The number of Asian immigrant arrivals declined in the first Trump administration even before COVID-19, and had rebounded to pre-2016 levels by 2023.
  3. Issuance of green cards (lawful permanent resident status) declined during the first Trump administration. Any future changes to green cards will disproportionately affect immigrants from India, China, Philippines, Vietnam, and Bangladesh.
  4. One in seven unauthorized immigrants are of Asian descent. The number of Asian unauthorized immigrants grew from 1.4 million in 2010 to 1.7 million in 2022, while the overall number of unauthorized immigrants remained stable at around 11 million.
  5. Asian immigrants have among the longest wait times for visas. Nearly 1.5 million Asian immigrants are on family waiting lists for green cards, with Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, China and Pakistan among the top Asian countries with long waiting lists.
  6. Most Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults see lawful immigration as having major benefits for economic growth (79%) and skilled labor in science and technology (73%), compared with just 42% and 41% of the general public, respectively.

Policy Data

Foreign-Born Populations

  • Asian Americans are the only racial group that is majority foreign-born, with two-thirds of Asian Americans (65%) being born outside of the U.S. (Figure 1.1)
  • The number of Asian immigrant arrivals declined in the first Trump administration even before COVID-19, and had rebounded to pre-2016 levels by 2023 (Figure 1.2)
  • The number of tourists and business travelers from Asia declined in the first Trump administration, and has not yet rebounded to pre-2016 levels (Figure 1.3)
  • Among Asian Americans, the highest proportion of foreign born tend to be among smaller Asian populations like Malaysian, Bhutanese, and Nepalese residents (Figure 1.4)
  • Among the largest Asian American ethnic groups, Japanese Americans are the only group that is majority native born (Figure 1.4)
  • While most Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are native born, more than two thirds of Fijians are foreign-born (Figure 1.5)

Naturalizations

  • Asians have constituted the largest share of naturalizing citizens, averaging 280,000 over the most recent ten-year period, when compared to an annual average of 263,000 for immigrants from North America, which includes Canada, Mexico, and Central America (Figure 2.1)
  • Naturalizations among Asian Americans declined in 2020, but have subsequently increased, returning to pre-2020 levels (Figure 2.1)
  • Asian Indians and Filipinos constitute the largest numbers of naturalized citizens in 2022 (Figure 2.2)
  • Asians continue to have among the fastest naturalization rates—In 2022, Asian immigrants took an average of six years to become naturalized, similar to immigrants from Africa (Figure 2.3)

Lawful Permanent Residents

  • Asians have constituted the largest share of new green card holders in the last decade, averaging 390,000 over the most recent ten-year period, when compared to an annual average of 357,000 for immigrants from North America (Figure 3.1)
  • Green card issuances for all immigrants, including Asian immigrants, declined during the Trump administration starting in 2017 and reached its lowest levels in 2020. Green card issuances returned to pre-Trump levels in 2022 and 2023 (Figure 3.1)
  • India, China, and the Philippines were the top three Asian countries in 2023 for the number of green cards issued (Figure 3.2)
  • The majority of Asians (56%) receiving green cards did so through family sponsorship (Figure 3.3)
  • Asian countries with the highest proportion of family visas (including immediate relatives of U.S. citizens) are Vietnam, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Thailand
  • Changes to employment-based visas will likely have the greatest impact on South Koreans, Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, and Asian Indians

Refugees and Asylees

  • Asian Americans have constituted the largest share of refugees, with about 22,500 admitted annually in the last ten-year period (Figure 4.1)
  • Refugee admissions dropped significantly during the Trump administration and increased in 2022 and 2023, although they are still well below levels seen under the Obama administration (Figure 4.1)
  • Asian Americans have also constituted the largest share of asylees, with about 7,400 admitted annually in the most recent ten-year period and about 18,000 admitted in 2023 (Figure 4.2)
  • Top Asian countries for refugees in 2023 were Afghanistan (6,590), Burma (6,130), and Pakistan (490)
  • Top Asian countries for asylees in 2023 were Afghanistan (14,330), China (1,360), and Pakistan (140)

Temporary Visa Holders (students, workers)

We rely on two primary sources of information on the number of nonimmigrant or temporary visa holders: 1) visa data from the Department of State which indicate annual flows, and 2) population estimates in reports published by the Office of Immigration Statistics which indicate the total number (or stock) of temporary visa holders residing in the country.

Data on nonimmigrant visas in the Yearbook of Immigration Statistics are based on analysis of entry authorization (I-94) forms. Since individuals can enter multiple times in a given year, these numbers would overestimate the number of temporary migrants entering in a particular year.

  • Data on temporary visas from the Department of State indicate that temporary worker visas for Asians rebounded after a decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, but student visas remain well below levels in 2014 and 2015 (Figure 5.1)  
  • In terms of the total number of temporary visa holders residing in the country, the latest analyses from the Office of Immigration Statistics indicates that Asians represent the largest share of U.S. residents who are on temporary visas, including temporary workers, students, and exchange visitors  (Figure 5.2)

Undocumented Immigrants

  • The number of Asian undocumented immigrants grew from 1.4 million in 2010 to 1.7 million in 2022 (Figure 6.1)
  • At 1.7 million out of 11 million undocumented, Asians account for about 1 out of every 7 undocumented immigrants in the U.S.
  • With 1.7 million Asian undocumented out of 12.7 million Asian foreign-born, the undocumented account for about 1 out of 8 Asian immigrants in the U.S.
  • Among Asian unauthorized immigrants, the largest countries of origin are India (725,000), China (375,000), Philippines (130,000), and Korea (110,000)

Visa Backlogs

  • Nearly 1.5 million Asians are waiting for their family visas, this accounts for nearly 40% of nearly all family visas awaiting issuance
  • Asian countries with the longest family visa waiting list include the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China (Figure 7.1)

Newly-Arrived Immigrants

  • Among Asian immigrants, Asian Indians and Chinese make up the largest share of recent arrivals in the U.S. in the past decade (Figure 8.1)
  • Among Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander immigrants, Fijians and Samoans have  notable shares of recent arrivals in the U.S. in the past decade (Figure 8.2)
  • Looking proportionally within the immigrant population, the following Asian groups have the highest share of recent arrivals, with a majority of Bhutanese, Nepalese, Burmese, and Mongolian immigrants having entered the U.S. in the past decade

Public Opinion Data

Views on Immigration

  • 64% percent say the U.S. used to be a great place for immigrants but is not anymore, while 30% feel it still is a great place for immigrants. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, June 2026)
  • Compared to a third of the general population, 51% of AAPIs report they or someone they know has experienced one or more of the following: carrying documentation proving immigration status or citizenship, changing travel plans, significantly altering daily routines, or facing detention or deportation due to immigration status. Carrying proof of immigration or citizenship status is at 41% for AAPIs, and is highest among South Asians (53%). (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, June 2026)
  • 58% consider it extremely or very important for immigrants living in the United States to maintain their culture and traditions. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, June 2026)
  • 75% of AAPI adults say economic growth is a major benefit of legal immigration and 54% say the same about illegal immigration. AAPI adults are more likely to see economic growth as a major benefit of illegal immigration than the general population (42%).(AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, February 2026)
  • In 2026, immigration remains a high priority for AAPI communities. 41% mention immigration as a top policy issue, including 32% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, January 2026)
  • In 2025, while about half of AAPI adults favored deporting immigrants living in the United States illegally who have been charged with misdemeanors, fewer favored deporting all immigrants living in the United States illegally (35%), those who express views that the federal government does not agree with (30%), or those who have lived in the U.S. for more than a decade (24%). (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, September-October 2025)
  • Most Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults see legal immigration as having major benefits for economic growth (79%) and skilled labor in science and technology (73%), compared with just 42% and 41% of the general public, respectively. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

  • Concerns about illegal immigration are similar between AANHPI adults and the general public, with similar shares citing risks to welfare programs (48% vs. 53%) and increased crime (38% vs. 40%), despite recent reports noting that immigrants tend to use benefits at lower rates and commit fewer crimes than the general population. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

  • Most Asian American voters (71%) ranked immigration as an issue that was extremely or very important in personally deciding how they voted in the November 2024 election. (2024 Asian American Voter Survey)

  • About 8 in 10 AAPI adults support deporting all immigrants living in the United States illegally who have been convicted of a violent crime, similar to the general population. Far fewer (43%) support deporting all immigrants living in the United States illegally. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC Survey March-April 2025)

  • Many more AAPI adults oppose rather than support eliminating birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are here illegally or on temporary work or student visas. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC Survey March-April 2025)

  • Although about 4 in 10 AAPI adults say they support deporting all undocumented immigrants, fewer back that stance when specific consequences are mentioned—only 27% support it if it means separating children from their families, and 22% if it means deporting people in the hospital. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC Survey March-April 2025)

Views on Federal Immigration Policy

  • 72% of AAPI adults stated that the federal government is spending too much on immigration enforcement. (2026 AAPI Policy Priorities Survey)
  • The 2026 AAPI Policy Priorities survey shows growing opposition to deportations among AAPI adults. Today, 29% of AAPI adults favor and 47% oppose deporting “all immigrants living in the United States illegally.” Over Time: This compares to 35% in favor and 49% opposed to deporting all immigrants in September 2025, after widely publicized examples of overhanded enforcement actions in Los Angeles, and 38% in favor and 40% opposed to deporting all immigrants in December 2024, soon after the 2024 presidential election. (2026 AAPI Policy Priorities Survey)
  • Trump’s immigration policies are not popular among AAPI adults. 67% agree Trump has gone too far when it comes to deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. 23% say he has been about right and 10% say he has not gone far enough. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, February 2026)
  • AAPI adults are more likely to have unfavorable views of ICE: 73% have unfavorable views compared to 60% of the general population. About 9 in 10 Democrats view ICE unfavorably among both AAPI and general populations, while 61% of AAPI Republicans and 71% of Republicans overall hold favorable views.  (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, February 2026)
  • In September 2025, more AAPI adults disapproved of President Trump’s handling of immigration than they did six months prior (71% vs. 58%), and two-thirds say Trump’s deportation policies have gone too far. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, September-October 2025)
  • AAPI adults who were born outside the United States tend to be older and less likely to lean Democratic than those who were born in the United States. They are more likely to approve of Trump’s handling of crime (43% vs. 24%) and immigration (33% vs. 22%) and are more likely to favor deporting all immigrants who are in the country illegally (39% vs. 28%) and those who have been charged with a misdemeanor (56% vs 41%). (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, September-October 2025)
  • Just 27% support deportations if it means separating parents from their children who are citizens. About half of AAPI adults oppose arresting people who are in the country illegally while they are in the hospital or at church or other places of worship. These views are nearly identical to those of the general population. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll, March-April 2025)
  • Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults rank increasing security at the U.S.-Mexico border (45%), reducing green card wait times (44%), and preventing visa overstays (41%) as top priorities for federal immigration policy. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

  • Reducing green card wait times is also a top issue for AANHPI adults, with 44% considering it a high priority, and about another third prioritizing other legal immigration policies such as expanding family visas and providing green cards to college graduates. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

  • About a third of AAPI adults and the general population consider providing legal status for undocumented immigrants and deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally as high priorities. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

Notes on Data Sources

  1. The American Community Survey (ACS) contains separate variables on nativity and on race and ethnicity, enabling users to analyze data on Asian American and NHPI foreign born populations, with the racial categories as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.
  2. Annual immigration statistics from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State contain data on region of origin and country of origin, but not on race or ethnicity. Thus, for example, immigrants from Syria would be considered as coming from the region of Asia, even though the federal government considers those of Syrian origin as belonging to the racial category of “Middle Eastern and North African.”

Policy Background

Key Laws

Immigration is regulated by the federal government. The main source of statutory law is the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), originally passed in 1952.

Federal Agencies

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): CBP conducts inspections and enforces immigration and customs law at U.S. ports of entry and areas up to 100 miles from the U.S. border, including coastal areas.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

  • Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR): The EOIR oversees adjudications of DHS administrative actions, the immigration judges, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Office (OCAHO), and the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO).

  • Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER): The IER enforces the anti-discrimination provisions of the INA, Section 274B (8 U.S.C. 1324b.). The IER protects U.S. citizens and legal immigrants from employment discrimination based upon national origin and citizenship or immigration status, unfair documentary practices during the employment eligibility verification process, and retaliation.

Department of Labor (DOL)

  • In order to hire foreign workers, U.S. employers must go through a process called “labor certification” with the Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC). Employers must demonstrate that there are not sufficient U.S. workers available and willing to fill the position at or above the average (prevailing) wage for the occupation.

Department of State

  • The State Department is responsible for issuance of visas. It publishes the Foreign Affairs Manual, which contains information on citizenship and nationality,  and interpretations and instructions on provisions for issuing visas and waivers. The State Department issues the monthly Visa Bulletin, which shows the waiting times for immigrant visas in different categories and from different countries.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

  • Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR): ORR provides resettlement assistance to newly arrived refugees, asylees, and certain other eligible groups. ORR is also responsible for the care and custody of unaccompanied children apprehended by DHS while they await removal proceedings in immigration courts.

Executive Level Changes

Federal agencies have exercised a wide amount of discretion with respect to immigration enforcement through prosecutorial discretion and immigration services through a process known as adjudicative discretion. Prosecutorial discretion has often been a matter of necessity, as immigration enforcement agencies lack the resources to prosecute every immigration violation and thus prioritize certain groups of individuals such as criminals who are threats to national security or public safety. In addition to the decisions of particular agencies, presidential administrations have also taken executive action that may affect the work of several federal agencies.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

  • In June 2012, President Obama established DACA via executive action to protect certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children from removal proceedings and receive authorization to work for renewable two-year periods. Originally, DACA protected an individual from removal action for a certain period of time, did not provide a pathway to U.S. citizenship, and people with DACA status were ineligible for federally funded health coverage.

Title 42

  • In March 2020, President Trump issued an order limiting migration across the U.S. border, saying it was necessary to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The order authorized the immediate removal of migrants, including people seeking asylum.

  • President Biden initially kept Title 42 in place after he took office, then ended its use in May 2022. The Biden administration began turning away anyone seeking asylum who didn’t first seek protection in a country they traveled through, or first applied online.

In addition to variation in policy implementation on immigration enforcement, the last eight years have also seen significant variation in the conferral of immigration benefits, including a significant slowdown of processing times for immigrants visas and naturalizations under President Trump, and the subsequent reduction in naturalization backlogs under President Biden.

Additional References

Other Resources

Community Partners

Note: We will update this list regularly in 2025.

National

State & Local

Sources:

Suggested citation: Karthick Ramakrishnan, Connie Tan, Akil Vohra, and Lisa Ocampo, “By the Numbers: Immigration. AAPI Data Guide on Timely Policy Issues.” Berkeley, CA: AAPI Data, 2025.

  • AAPI Data’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. (2023). American Community Survey (ACS), 2022 Five-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) via iPUMS USA. https://usa.ipums.org/usa/ 

Version 2.0