Only one-third of people still view America as an ideal destination for immigrants, with many reporting behavioral changes under the current administration.
According to a survey released Monday, ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence next month, most Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults believe the United States was once a great place for immigrants but is no longer.
“Forty-one per cent of AAPI adults say they have started carrying proof of immigration status or citizenship, or know someone who has, and 34 per cent say the same about changing travel plans because of immigration status,” the Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research reported.
Only one in three respondents still considers the US a great place for immigrants. In contrast, 64 per cent believe it used to be but is not anymore.
These findings emerge as US President Donald Trump has targeted both legal and illegal immigration during his second term, implementing policies that affect everyone from undocumented immigrants to students and highly skilled workers.
Since Trump’s return to office, ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has carried out operations in several US cities as part of the government’s sweeping immigration crackdown.