Latinos are making this country more diverse. That’s good for all Americans.

Yesterday, the Census Bureau announced data from the 2020 count that shows the population of Latinos in the United States grew 23 percent to 62.1 million since 2010. This means Hispanics now represent 18.7% of the total population.

We released the following statement by Deputy Vice President of Policy and Advocacy Clarissa Martínez-de-Castro:

“It’s clear from today’s numbers that Latinos, immigrants and sister communities are revitalizing towns and cities across the country and will be vital to helping the country continue to combat and recover from the pandemic. That is why we celebrate the news today from the Census Bureau that shows an increase in our nation’s diversity. It is this very diversity that makes the United States unique and is a source of its strength. And Latinos, eight in 10 of whom are U.S. citizens, have been the engine of that growth in diversity for decades now. Latinos are hardworking people who have contributed to America’s economy and culture for generations. And, like all Americans, they want to take care of their families and contribute to their communities.

“But despite our contributions to the country, the realities of our lives aren’t always recognized, and worse, in too many cases, we are actively demonized. Just last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis explicitly and falsely accused migrants at the southern border of bringing COVID-19 into the country. In Texas we have seen and heard Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s repeated and incendiary rhetoric accusing immigrants of “invading” Texas. This is the same ugly, racist hate speech that has targeted Latinos throughout our country’s history and contributed to the tragic deaths of 23 Hispanics in El Paso two years ago.

“We know in our hearts, however, that those who would close the door to Latinos are far outnumbered by those who welcome and call us neighbors and friends. Together, we can work to ensure policies, practices and beliefs don’t hold Latinos—and the country—back. When more Latinos have access to real opportunities like good jobs, education, homes and health care, they contribute even more to our economy and our increasingly diverse communities, and those opportunities also open up for equally situated fellow Americans. And that benefits the nation.”