Fewer anti-Asian hate crimes in US, but immigration crackdowns raise concerns

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Aug 19, 2026 #AAJC, #anti-Asian hate, #anti-immigrant policies, #anti-Sikh hate crime incidents, #Asian-Americans Advancing Justice, #China, #donald trump, #fbi, #Federal Bureau of Investigation, #H-B visa, #immigration and customs enforcement, #Kash Patel, #South China Morning Post (SCMP), #Stop AAPI Hate, #US, #US-China geopolitical tension

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Fewer anti-Asian hate crimes in US, but immigration crackdowns raise concerns

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New Federal Bureau of Investigation data shows a downward trend in anti-Asian hate in the US, but serious concerns remain. Photo: Shutterstock

Han Liin Washington, DCPublished: 5:32am, 20 Aug 2026Updated: 6:16am, 20 Aug 2026Almost 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 half of individuals indicating they have been targeted but many decline to report it to authorities for fear of repercussions.

According to FBI data released in mid-August, reported anti-Asian hate crime incidents fell 10 per cent nationwide, from 379 in 2024 to 339 in 2025.

While that is a positive sign, advocates caution that the figure remains far above pre-pandemic norms.

The annual average between 2013 and 2019 was 133 incidents, meaning anti-Asian hate crimes remain significantly elevated compared with the years before Covid-19.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed00:0000:001.00x