MEDIA CONTACT:
Amanda Ong
press@aapidata.com
Matthew Weisbly
mweisbly@jacl.org
JACL’s First Membership Survey in 16 Years Reveals A Membership Unified Across Generations
July 7, 2026 – The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) is excited to release the results of its first comprehensive membership survey in sixteen years. The survey, developed by Erika Braun in collaboration with JACL and AAPI Data, captures perspectives from 510 members and paints a portrait of a membership that is politically activated by the current moment and draws historic parallels between incarceration in World War II and current immigration enforcement tactics.
An overwhelming majority (78%) say that the U.S. immigration policy debate has worsened discrimination against AANHPI communities and over 80% support JACL focusing on border immigration policy.
“This data is valuable because it shows that Japanese Americans largely disapprove of current immigration enforcement tactics and affirms what we’ve seen in AAPI Data surveys,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and executive director of AAPI Data. “Support for immigration enforcement tactics has fallen over the last year and organizations like JACL can harness this disillusionment to galvanize their memberships.”
This survey arose from a desire to better understand JACL membership and to assess if priorities differ between older and younger members. Overall, findings from the survey show that across this intergenerational organization, members are more unified than divided. Across every age group, generation, and district, racial justice and equity is the top policy priority—the only issue that ranks consistently first regardless of how the membership is segmented. Concerns about JACL’s future, including membership decline, loss of institutional memory, lack of younger leadership, are shared equally across all generations, not concentrated among older members.
“This project began when I came across the 2009 membership survey conducted by Dana Y. Nakano at UC Berkeley, and found myself flipping through its pages. I wanted to understand how JACL’s membership had since evolved over a period marked by major shifts in the political landscape,” said Erika Braun, the project lead. “As a mixed heritage Japanese American and a student of sociology and statistics, I was interested in how generational change and shifting political contexts are reflected within long-standing civil rights organizations like JACL. I hope these findings can help inform JACL as it moves into its next century of programming, advocacy, and community building.”
As JACL approaches its 100th anniversary in 2029, this survey provides strategic recommendations on a bold path forward for the long-enduring organization. Based on the findings, the survey points toward a JACL that leads with racial justice, builds pan-ethnic coalitions, and invests in the next generation of leaders.
“I thank Erika Braun and AAPI Data for conducting this survey for JACL. Membership surveys such as this provide our organization with information about our membership, and the analysis will be valuable as JACL goes through a leadership transition and approaches its centennial,” said Saki Mori, former Interim Executive Director of JACL. “This survey’s responses and insights will support the National Staff and National Board to deepen the impact of our existing programs; to develop new programming responsive to the interests of our members; and to strengthen the organization’s advocacy work in civil rights and social justice at all levels of civic life.”
About AAPI Data
AAPI Data is a national research and policy organization producing accurate data to support community narratives that drive action toward enduring solutions for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Learn more at aapidata.com.
About JACL
The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose ongoing mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans and all others who are victimized by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote cultural, educational, and social values and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American community. Learn more at jacl.org.