Representation for Latine immigrants on TV has hit a new low, according to a report from Define American, conducted in partnership with USC’s Norman Lear Center.
The “Change the Narrative, Change the World” report assessed 201 immigrant characters across 80 episodes of 62 scripted series, all of which aired between July 2023 and June 2025. Latine people made up 23% of all immigrant characters, down drastically from the 50% found in 2020. Meanwhile, Latine immigrants make up 44% of all immigrants living in the U.S. “FBI” and “FBI: Most Wanted made up a large portion of Latine immigrant characters in the sample; without the franchise, the report notes, representation falls to just 17%.
Additionally, the report noted that out of all immigrant characters, one in four were portrayed as a criminal, drug addict or human trafficker, perpetuating negative stereotypes on-screen.
“No force in culture shapes how we see each other quite like Hollywood, which is exactly why representation must be a priority,” Define American founder Jose Antonio Vargas said in a statement about the report. “Our research is clear: the stories we see on screen have the power to change how we view people in real life. It’s time the industry moves beyond meeting a quota and embraces its responsibility to accurately reflect the complexity of the American people. When Hollywood tells these stories, we will be able to build a more welcoming America for all.”
