As colleges and universities increasingly curtail diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, a new poll indicates that young Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults overwhelmingly oppose cutting federal funding for DEI programs in higher education and deporting students involved in campus protest activity.
The survey, conducted by AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, found that approximately 9 in 10 AAPI adults under the age of 30 “somewhat” or “strongly” oppose both the reduction of federal funds for institutions with DEI policies and the arrest or deportation of foreign students participating in campus protests.
While opposition to these measures remains higher than support among older AAPI adults, the intensity of this opposition is significantly less pronounced. Around half of AAPI adults aged 60 and older “somewhat” or “strongly” oppose these policies, while about 3 in 10 favor them, and roughly 2 in 10 hold a neutral stance.
Despite these age-related divisions on specific policies, the poll highlights a consistent belief across all age groups within the AAPI community regarding the importance of a college degree. The vast majority of AAPI adults, regardless of age, consider a college degree “essential” or “important” for securing a good job capable of supporting a family.
This poll is part of an ongoing initiative to better understand the perspectives of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, a demographic often underrepresented in broader surveys due to smaller sample sizes and a lack of linguistic diversity in polling methods.
The Trump administration has previously threatened to cut federal funding over DEI programs, leading to the scaling back of support systems for students of color at numerous colleges. Additionally, the White House has already moved to cut billions in federal research grants to universities accused of insufficient action against antisemitism, particularly in the context of protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The administration has also initiated deportation proceedings against foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, as exemplified by the case of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil.
Iris Chiou, a 28-year-old Taiwanese American medical student, expressed concern for international students facing potential deportation, questioning the long-term comfort levels for students and academics to speak out on important issues. “The fact that you have people disappearing and being deported, being functionally kidnapped, I think that’s going to scare people — which it’s probably supposed to,” Chiou stated, suggesting this could stifle open discussion on critical topics.
Following the Trump administration’s funding threats, some institutions have revised their protest policies. Columbia University, for instance, has implemented a ban on students wearing masks to conceal their identities and requires protesters to show identification upon request. In contrast, Harvard University has challenged the administration’s demands, filing a lawsuit in April to contest funding cuts.
Rowena Tomaneng, board chair of the Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education, noted the increased vulnerability felt by many students, particularly international students who may perceive a less welcoming environment in the United States.
Younger AAPI adults also expressed greater concern about the broader implications for free speech on campuses and federal government cuts to university research. Approximately 7 in 10 AAPI adults under 30 are “extremely” or “very” concerned about these restrictions, compared to about half of AAPI adults aged 60 and older.
Tarun Puri, 59, supports the arrest or deportation of international students involved in campus protests, arguing that students who pay significant sums to study in the U.S. should respect the country’s laws and order.
Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data and a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that the differing attitudes between younger and older AAPI adults may be partly attributed to their distinct life experiences, including where they pursued their higher education.
The poll surveyed 1,094 U.S. adults identifying as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander between April 7-14, 2025. The survey utilized a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the AAPI population, with interviews conducted online and via telephone in English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean. The margin of sampling error for the overall sample is plus or minus 4.8 percentage points.
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