By Richard T. Herman, Immigration Attorney (30+ Years)
Herman Legal Group — Serving Immigrants in All 50 States
QUICK ANSWER
A major new immigrant survey, released by the New York Times and the Kaiser Family Foundation, finds historic levels of fear among immigrants in 2025 — especially those who are undocumented or in mixed-status families.
But the most surprising finding?
Despite the fear, the overwhelming majority of immigrants say they would come to the U.S. again — and plan to stay.
This article breaks down what the survey shows, who is most impacted, and how immigrants can protect themselves in a shifting enforcement climate.
FAST FACTS (From the 2025 KFF–NYT Survey)
Source: KFF–New York Times Survey of Immigrants
NYT coverage: New York Times Report
- 75% of likely-undocumented immigrants have avoided work, travel, public places, or medical care due to fear of detention.
- 22% of immigrants personally know someone arrested, detained, or deported this year.
- 40% of immigrants report worsened health because of immigration-related anxiety; among likely-undocumented: 77%.
- Only 1 in 3 believes the U.S. is still “a great place for immigrants.”
- Most say they would come again, despite fear.
- 60% of immigrant voters say immigration policy has changed their political affiliation.
INTRODUCTION
The 2025 KFF–New York Times Survey of Immigrants offers the clearest picture yet of how immigrants feel in the United States during the second Trump administration.
The results are sobering, and deeply human:
- Fear is rising
- Mental health is deteriorating
- Family routines are disrupted
- Confidence in U.S. institutions is collapsing
And yet…
Immigrants overwhelmingly say they’re here to stay, that their lives are better in the U.S., and they would choose America again.
This dual reality perfectly reflects what we see every day at Herman Legal Group in cases involving:
- Deportation Defense
- Marriage-Based Green Cards
- H-1B and Employment Immigration
- I-601A Waivers
- Asylum & Fear-Based Claims
Let’s break down what the survey means.
SECTION 1 — FEAR LEVELS ARE AT HISTORIC HIGHS
1. Immigrants are afraid to be seen.
The survey shows:
- 41% of all immigrants fear they or a family member may be detained or deported
- Up from 26% just a few years ago
2. Fear is not abstract — it’s personal.
22% say they personally know someone arrested or deported this year.
This aligns with the surge we’ve documented here:
Why Visa & Green Card Holders Are Being Detained
3. Undocumented immigrants live in constant avoidance mode.
More than three out of four likely-undocumented immigrants are avoiding:
- Work
- School
- Public places
- Hospitals
- Religious gatherings
- Even family events
This is the highest avoidance rate recorded in modern surveys.
SECTION 2 — THE HEALTH IMPACT: A NATION OF ANXIOUS IMMIGRANTS
The American Psychological Association has long warned that immigration fear produces clinical anxiety, PTSD-like symptoms, insomnia, and hypertension:
APA Immigration Trauma Research
The KFF–NYT survey confirms:
- 40% of immigrants overall report worsened mental and physical health
- 77% of likely-undocumented immigrants report serious health effects
The CDC has published related data on how chronic fear physically harms the body:
CDC: Chronic Stress & Health
This is why psychological evaluations are crucial in hardship waiver cases:
Extreme Hardship & Psychological Evaluations
SECTION 3 — IS AMERICA STILL A “GOOD PLACE FOR IMMIGRANTS”?
This was one of the survey’s most emotionally charged findings:
Only one-third of immigrants say the U.S. is still a great place for immigrants.
Nearly 60% say it “used to be, but not anymore.”
Yet paradoxically:
Most immigrants say they would choose America again — and believe their lives are better here.
This tension between fear and gratitude is precisely what we hear from clients seeking:
SECTION 4 — IMPACT ON FAMILIES
Mixed-status households — where one member is undocumented, one is a citizen, and another is a green card holder — face extraordinary pressures:
- Parents skip medical appointments
- Kids avoid extracurricular activities or tutoring
- Families decline to travel, even inside the U.S.
- Adults avoid reporting crimes
- Some families stop driving altogether
These patterns lead directly to legal vulnerabilities we discuss in:
Know Your Rights During ICE Encounters
SECTION 5 — ECONOMIC IMPACT: EMPLOYERS FEEL IT TOO
According to Brookings, immigrants make up a critical share of the U.S. labor force in healthcare, construction, childcare, tech, and agriculture:
Brookings: Immigrant Labor Force Research
But now:
- Workers are afraid to show up
- New hires delay onboarding
- Visa holders refuse travel assignments
- Undocumented workers disappear from essential roles
This creates risk for employers, especially those hiring:
- H-1B professionals
- Physicians
- STEM workers
- Hospital staff
Employer resources:
H-1B Employer Guide
Hiring Foreign Doctors
Corporate Compliance
SECTION 6 — POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES
The survey shows:
60% of immigrant voters say the Trump administration’s immigration policies changed their political affiliation.
Among them:
- 36% moved away from Republicans
- 19% moved toward Republicans
This has implications for:
- Naturalization
- Local elections
- Turnout in immigrant-heavy districts
Relevant HLG resource:
N-400 Naturalization Guide
Also relevant:
Can Trump Take Away My Citizenship?
SECTION 7 — SHOULD IMMIGRANTS STAY OR LEAVE?
The central question many journalists are now asking is:
“Are immigrants planning to leave the U.S. under Trump?”
The survey’s answer is clear:
Despite record fear, the overwhelming majority plan to remain in the U.S.
Immigrants cite:
- Family stability
- Economic opportunity
- Education
- Long-term hope
- Lack of opportunity in home countries
This matches our casework:
Voluntary Departure vs Removal Defense
I-212 Return After Removal
Consular Processing 2026
SECTION 8 — LEGAL STRATEGY FOR IMMIGRANTS IN 2025–2026
Here are the steps every immigrant should consider now:
1. Schedule a legal status review
Book a Consultation with Richard T. Herman
2. Create a family safety plan
Important for mixed-status households.
3. Explore all available immigration options
Including:
- Adjustment
- Consular processing
- Asylum
- Cancellation
- Humanitarian options (VAWA, U, T, SIJS)
- Employment pathways (EB-2, NIW, H-1B)
4. Know your rights
5. Never make decisions out of fear alone
Always speak with an attorney.
SECTION 9 — WHAT JOURNALISTS SHOULD KNOW
This survey is an extraordinary dataset because it documents:
- The lived consequences of policy
- How enforcement reshapes family life
- The psychological toll on communities
- Real-time political realignment
- A contradiction: fear vs. determination
Journalists needing expert commentary may contact Herman Legal Group here:
Media Inquiries
CONCLUSION
The 2025 KFF–New York Times Survey reveals a profoundly anxious immigrant community — but also one that remains committed to the United States, hopeful for the future, and determined to overcome obstacles.
If you or someone you know is struggling with legal uncertainty, fear, or immigration stress, you can speak with us here:
Schedule a Consultation
RESOURCE DIRECTORY
A curated library of authoritative sources for reporters, analysts, academics, and immigrant families.
Survey & Primary Research
- KFF–NYT 2025 Survey of Immigrants
https://www.kff.org/kff-nytimes-2025-survey-of-immigrants/ - NYT Coverage of Survey
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/us/immigrants-survey-trump.html
Public Opinion & Polling
- Pew Research — Immigration Attitudes
https://www.pewresearch.org - Gallup Immigration Trends
https://www.gallup.com
Health, Mental Health & Trauma
- American Psychological Association — Immigration Trauma
https://www.apa.org/topics/immigration-undocumented-youth - CDC — Mental Health & Chronic Stress
https://www.cdc.gov/mental-health/
Economic Research
- Brookings Institution — Immigration Economics
https://www.brookings.edu/topics/immigration/ - Economic Innovation Group — Immigrant Entrepreneurship
https://eig.org
Academic Studies
- Stanford Immigration Policy Lab
https://immigrationlab.org - ArXiv — Immigration Studies Archive
https://arxiv.org
Media Coverage
- Reuters Immigration Desk
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/ - Associated Press Immigration
https://apnews.com/hub/immigration - Washington Post Immigration
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/
Herman Legal Group — Core Legal Resources
- Marriage Green Cards
https://www.lawfirm4immigrants.com/marriage-green-card/ - Fiancé Visas (K-1)
/ - Adjustment of Status
https://www.lawfirm4immigrants.com/adjustment-of-status/ - I-601A Hardship Waivers
/ - Asylum & Protection
https://www.lawfirm4immigrants.com/asylum/ - H-1B Visas
https://www.lawfirm4immigrants.com/h1b-visa/ - EB-2 National Interest Waivers
/ - Deportation Defense
/ - Naturalization & Citizenship
https://www.lawfirm4immigrants.com/naturalization-citizenship/ - Consultation / Media Contact
https://www.lawfirm4immigrants.com/book-consultation/
