A leading Muslim civil rights organisation has said that a surge in Islamophobia in the United States is partly linked to policies introduced by Donald Trump targeting immigration and pro-Palestinian protests.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) reported a record 8,683 complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination in 2025, the highest since the group began documenting such incidents in 1996. The figure slightly exceeded the 8,658 complaints recorded in 2024, according to the organisation’s latest report.
CAIR said the increase was driven in part by government actions against pro-Palestinian demonstrations and stricter immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The group argued that these policies contributed to growing hostility toward Muslim communities across the country.
According to the report, the most common complaints involved employment discrimination (12.7%), followed by immigration and asylum issues (6.5%), hate incidents (6.4%), and travel-related discrimination, including government watchlists and enhanced airport screening.
The organisation also highlighted actions taken against immigrants and foreign protesters. These included attempts to deport participants in pro-Palestinian demonstrations, threats to withdraw funding from universities where protests occurred, and stricter screening of immigrants’ online activity.
The Trump administration has denied accusations of discrimination, saying its policies are aimed at strengthening national security and curbing illegal immigration.
CAIR also raised concerns about rhetoric targeting Muslim communities, including remarks about Somali Americans in Minnesota, where the group said complaints nearly doubled between 2024 and 2025.
Rights advocates say the policies have raised broader concerns about free speech, due process and academic freedom, particularly in relation to campus protests and immigration enforcement.
The debate comes amid wider tensions in the United States over immigration policy, Middle East conflicts, and civil liberties, with Muslim advocacy groups calling for stronger protections against discrimination.