Latino Immigration

This article provides a brief history and profile of the Hispanic or Latino population in the United States. Latinos trace their ancestry to over a dozen nations in the Americas, and their history reflects a variety of experiences: some are first-generation immigrants to the United States, while others trace their families’ presence in the United States as far back as the seventeenth century. Some have come to the United States as immigrants—others as refugees, exiles, or guest workers. Yet others are the descendants of people who were conquered and colonized. While they have played a key role in U.S. nation building, they have also exerted a significant transnational influence on their countries of origin. Among the groups that are discussed in this article are the Mexicans Americans/Chicanos, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Dominicans, as well as various Central and South American populations.