US antisemitic hate crimes rise in 2026 as officials pledge tougher prosecutions

Federal data released by the FBI shows that Jews accounted for 15% of reported hate‑crime incidents in the United States during the first half of 2026, making them 525% more likely to be targeted than their roughly 2.4% share of the adult population. Of the 3,750 hate‑crime incidents (4,384 offenses) recorded from January through early July, 566 incidents (613 offenses) were anti‑Jewish. Overall hate‑crime incidents fell 41.5% from the previous year, while religion‑based incidents comprised 25.1% of all hate crimes.

State reports highlighted New York with 88 anti‑Jewish incidents, California with 142, and New Jersey with 92. Common locations included roads or sidewalks (17%), schools (16%) and homes (15%).

In California, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said a recent state report found that about three‑quarters of religion‑based hate crimes in 2025 targeted Jews. Hochman pledged to “move heaven and earth” to prosecute perpetrators, emphasizing the need to differentiate hate incidents from hate crimes and to apply hate‑crime enhancements where applicable. He outlined the legal standards for qualifying offenses and stressed a goal of deterrence rather than simply filling jails.