The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and AAPI Data released a survey on Monday revealing Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Native Hawaiian adults as more likely to perceive immigration as an asset to the country than other American adults.
When asked about legal immigrants’ contribution to economic growth, 79 percent of AAPI and Native Hawaiian respondents said it is a “major benefit”, compared to 42 percent of other U.S. adults, according to the survey. Roughly half, specifically 51 percent, of AAPI and Native Hawaiian Americans said it is a major benefit that legal immigrants take jobs that Americans don’t want, while 35 percent of other U.S. adults said the same.
The survey also questioning respondents about illegal immigrants saw a slightly more favorable response among AAPI and Native Hawaiian adults compared to other American adults.
About 39 percent of AAPI and Native Hawaiian adults said illegal immigrants’ contribution to the economic growth is a major benefit, compared to 44 percent of other Americans. However, another 39 percent of AAPI and Native Hawaiians responded that it is a major benefit for illegal immigrants to take jobs Americans don’t want. Roughly 33 percent of other U.S. adults agreed.
Not only did the survey examined the benefits of immigrants but how participants also viewed the risks of illegal immigrants. Around 46 percent AAPI and Native Hawaiians said the number of reduced jobs available to American workers will be a minor risk. In comparison, 35 percent of other U.S. adults felt the same. However, 27 percent of both sample groups said there is no risk at all.
The survey also questioned participants about issues related to immigration, including the U.S.-Mexico border.
Roughly 45 percent of AAPI and Native Hawaiians respondents said increasing security at the U.S.-Mexico border should be a high priority for the federal government, while 53 percent of general U.S. adults agreed. Both figures reveal a majority of respondents — from both samples — considered border security as a high priority for the government.
The participants consisted of 1,123 Native Hawaiian and AAPI Americans, 55 percent of which considered themselves Democrats and 25 percent said Republicans. The remaining 20 percent identified as Independent or none. The leading ethnic group was Chinese at 22 percent followed consecutively by Indian and Filipino.
The survey was published less than a month before Election Day on Nov. 5, 2024. Researchers interviewed AAPI and Native Hawaiian adults on Sept. 3–9.
The margin of error is 4.7 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level among the full sample, including the design effect.
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