Representation of Latinos on television has hit an all-time low, according to a Define American report conducted in partnership with the Norman Lear Center at the University of Southern California.
The Change the Story, Change the World report evaluated 201 immigrant characters across 80 episodes of 62 scripted series, all of which aired between July 2023 and June 2025. The percentage of Latino characters among all immigrant characters was 23%, down from 50% in 2020. Meanwhile, Latino immigrants make up 44% of all immigrants living in the U.S. FBI. “FBI: Most Wanted had the majority of Latino immigrant characters in the sample, but without the franchise, that percentage would drop to just 17 percent, the report notes.
The report also found that one in four immigrant characters are portrayed as criminals, drug dealers or human traffickers, perpetuating negative stereotypes on screen.
“No cultural force shapes the way we see each other like Hollywood does, which is why representation must take precedence,” Define American founder José Antonio Vargas said in a statement about the report. “Our research is clear: the stories we see on screen have the power to change the way we see people in real life. It’s time for the industry to move beyond meeting quotas and embrace its responsibility to accurately reflect the complexity of the American people. When Hollywood tells these stories, we can build a more welcoming America for everyone.”
The Netflix series “Mo,” which ran for two seasons and featured 13 immigrants and two immigrant children (the most of any show surveyed), was hailed as a standard for immigrant and Middle Eastern representation. According to a Define American survey, 62% of viewers “reported having a greater understanding of the challenges faced by immigrants,” and 54% of viewers said they were “more likely to support refugees in their community after watching.”
“Deli Boys,” which aired on Hulu and is about two Pakistani-American brothers, was held up as a powerful example of representation for AAPI immigrants. Additionally, the percentage of black immigrants has remained steady at 17%, thanks in large part to the CBS sitcom “Bob Hearts Abishola.” However, the report warns that number could decline as the show ended with its fifth and final season in 2024.
“Shows like “Mo,” “Deli Boys,” and “Bob Hurts Abishola” set a high standard for nuanced storytelling, but the industry cannot rely on a small number of shows that represent the entire immigrant community,” said Dulce Valencia, Define American’s director of media partnerships. “We are working with writers and producers to build the infrastructure for sustained and nuanced representation on screen, so a single show no longer has to carry the weight of an entire community.”
