Fewer anti-Asian hate crimes in US, but immigration crackdowns raise concerns
Almost five years after the pandemic-era surge in anti-Asian hate in the US, new Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data shows a downward trend nationally. But advocates say concerns persist amid immigration crackdowns and heightened US-China geopolitical tension. A survey from Stop AAPI Hate, a self-reporting platform formed during the pandemic, paints an even more worrying picture, with…
Almost five years after a surge in anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, FBI data now indicate a nationwide decline. However, advocates warn that immigration crackdowns and heightened US-China tensions raise concerns. A survey by Stop AAPI Hate found that almost half of Asian and Pacific Islander adults experienced hate acts in 2025, a rate that has remained steady for three years.
Despite a 10% drop in reported incidents from 379 in 2024 to 339 in 2025, the figure remains significantly higher than pre-pandemic norms, averaging 133 incidents annually between 2013 and 2019. Sim J. Singh Attariwala, AAJC's director of the anti-Hate program, stated that the FBI figures likely represent only a fraction of the true scale of hate crimes, especially given immigration climate factors.
The 2026 annual report by Stop AAPI Hate, based on a survey of 1,378 Asian-American and Pacific Islander adults conducted in January 2026, found that 49% of respondents experienced a hate act in that year. Anti-immigrant policies and broader political sentiment have contributed to a "dangerous trifecta" of hate, according to Stephanie Chan, Stop AAPI Hate's director of data and research.
Chinese immigrants, in particular, have faced increased harassment due to Trump's immigration measures, such as higher visa fees and tighter restrictions. However, reporting hate crimes to authorities remains low, with only 22% of victims doing so. Hate acts against Sikhs rose 24.6%, and anti-Hindu incidents increased by 12%, while anti-Muslim hate crimes fell 10.1%.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
