Medialuna Magazine Contenido original y analítico en español para la vibrante comunidad latinoamericana de USA: Economía, salud, medio ambiente, cultura, estilo de vida
U.S. Latin American Children: The Future Is Already Here
By Diana Leal – Medialuna Magazine
More than 26 percent of all children under the age of 18 in the United States are Latin American (Hispanic or Latino). That means that more than one in every four children growing up in the United States today has roots in Latin America and carries with them the richness of its cultures, traditions, and values.
By 2023, U.S. Latin American children numbered approximately 19.2 million, making them one of the fastest-growing segments of the nation’s youth population. They are helping shape the future of America’s schools, neighborhoods, workforce, sports, culture, and economy.
Yet Latin American children are more than a statistic. They are dreamers, students, athletes, artists, innovators, and future leaders. Increasingly, they represent the future of the United States itself.
Who Are They?
Latin Americans are a diverse community whose heritage reflects a blend of Indigenous, African, European, and other cultural influences from 33 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Before arriving in the United States, their families identified themselves primarily by their national and cultural origins—Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadoran, Dominican, Colombian, Guatemalan, Peruvian, and many others—or simply as Latin Americans, reflecting the region from which they come. The terms Hispanic and Latino emerged later as broad U.S. categories used to describe people whose roots trace to Latin America.
Most Latin American children in the United States—about 93 percent—were born in the country. In addition, more than 1.7 million Puerto Rican children are U.S. citizens by birth.
As a result, many Latin American children grow up navigating two worlds. They are often bilingual, bicultural, and deeply connected both to their family’s heritage and to the United States society.
Research also points to the strength of Latin American cultural values. Family, community, cooperation, empathy, and mutual support are often central to their upbringing. Experts describe this cultural characteristic as familism—the belief that family members are responsible for supporting one another emotionally, socially, and often economically.
These values help many Latin American children develop resilience, generosity, and a strong sense of belonging.
Challenges They Face
Despite their enormous contributions and potential, many Latin American children continue to face barriers that limit opportunities for success.
Poverty
Many Latin American children thrive because of the strength of their families and communities. However, economic hardship remains a significant challenge.
Nearly 1 in 4 Latin American children in the United States lives in poverty.
About 1 in 10 lives in extreme poverty, with family incomes below half of the federal poverty level.
In 2022, half of all Latin American children lived in low-income households, compared with 37 percent of children nationwide.
Health
Latin American children often experience positive health outcomes early in life, including healthy birth weights associated with lower infant mortality and fewer health complications.
Yet challenges remain.
Latin American youth i nthe United States experience some of the highest rates of adolescent obesity among major population groups.
Nearly 18 percent of them
Nearly 18 percent lacked health insurance between 2018 and 2022, compared with 11 percent of children nationwide.
Education
Educational progress has improved significantly over the past two decades, but important gaps remain.
Reading and math proficiency—both critical indicators of future academic and career success—continue to fall below national averages.
According to the 2022 KIDS COUNT Data Book:
Only 20 percent of Latin American fourth-grade students achieved reading proficiency.
Just 14 percent of eighth-grade students demonstrated math proficiency.
Both figures remain substantially below national averages.
Why This Matters
The future of the United States is closely connected to the future of Latin American children. They will become the nation’s workers, entrepreneurs, educators, healthcare professionals, public servants, voters, and leaders.
Their success will influence the strength of the United States economy, its communities, and its democracy for generations to come.
Yet the data show that too many Latin American children and families still lack equitable access to the opportunities and resources they need to thrive.
A Call to Action
Supporting Latin American children is not simply an investment in one community—it is an investment in the future of the nation.
Policymakers, educators, business leaders, institutions, and communities must work together to ensure that Latin American children have equitable access to quality education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and safe environments where they can reach their full potential.
Because when Latin American children thrive, The United States thrives.
SOURCES
New KIDS COUNT Index Reveals Where States Are Making Progress for Children
