The inability to keep up with the sharp rise in costs is forcing far too many Latino parents to make difficult decisions that may have long-term consequences for their families. This urgent warning comes directly from the newly released “National Latino Family Report 2026,” a comprehensive collaborative study conducted by AP-OD, UnidosUS, and BSP Research. Centered heavily on key states including Texas, California, and New Mexico, the report captures a familiar and increasingly painful reality: Latine families across the United States are facing deepening financial hardships while simultaneously being disproportionately affected by tightening immigration enforcement and deportations nationwide.
The findings paint a complex picture of a community that serves as a foundational pillar of the American economy while experiencing profound systemic vulnerabilities. Despite driving more than $4 trillion in economic output within the U.S. workforce over the course of 2025, an overwhelming 78 percent of the Latine community is currently experiencing living conditions that they describe as "only fair or poor." This stark disconnect between economic contribution and personal financial stability forms the backdrop of the new research, which surveyed 1,300 Latine parents and primary caregivers who have young children at home.
When these parents and caregivers look toward Washington, their policy priorities for Congress and the president clearly reflect the pressures of daily survival. According to the survey, immigration reform ranks as the top concern, cited by 42 percent of respondents. This is closely followed by worries over jobs and the economy at 38 percent, the broader cost of living and inflation at 37 percent, housing affordability at 25 percent, health care access at 20 percent, and border security at 15 percent. These percentages illustrate that while economic survival is top of mind, the looming shadow of immigration policy deeply intertwines with how these families navigate their daily lives.
If basic household necessities like groceries, health insurance, or childcare feel increasingly out of reach, families are far from alone in their struggle. Nearly half of all survey respondents, amounting to 49 percent, reported that their overall financial situation has actively worsened over the past year. As inflation outpaces wage growth, households are forced to tap into creative and often precarious financial measures simply to make ends meet. To cover everyday expenses, 40 percent of respondents stated they had to borrow money from friends or family members, 29 percent relied on credit cards, 21 percent were forced to draw down what little savings they had managed to accumulate, and 23 percent resorted to selling personal belongings.
These mounting financial pressures underscore the urgent, widespread calls for structural action on the economy, the skyrocketing cost of living—with childcare standing out as a particularly heavy burden—and an overhaul of the health care system. Across the board, wages are simply not keeping pace with the hard work that people put in every single day, leaving working-class families vulnerable to sudden economic shocks.
Beyond the kitchen table economics, immigration policy and enforcement have emerged as deeply pressing concerns that affect both the financial and emotional well-being of Latine households. The survey highlights alarming trends in federal enforcement, noting a dramatic shift in how families are targeted. Most notably, the report reveals that mothers of U.S. citizens have been deported at four times the rate seen under the previous administration of President Joe Biden. Furthermore, approximately 23 percent of respondents stated that someone in their immediate circle—either a friend or a family member—had been detained or deported over the past year alone.
The ripple effects of this aggressive enforcement climate extend far beyond the direct targets of deportation proceedings. Fear surrounding President Donald Trump’s ongoing mass deportation plans and heightened Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids has fundamentally altered the daily routines of Latine families with children. Out of fear for their safety and family unity, significant numbers of respondents reported altering their public behaviors. For instance, 35 percent of families have avoided taking their children to school, 24 percent have avoided talking to local police when needing assistance, 21 percent have refrained from signing up for public benefits that they may be eligible for, and 16 percent have delayed or avoided visiting doctors for necessary medical care.
This climate of fear and civic withdrawal has galvanized public opinion within the community. As a result of these compounding pressures, 75 percent of survey respondents now express strong support for comprehensive immigration reform, including the expansion of protections for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Despite the formidable combination of economic hardship and enforcement-related fear, Latines across the country continue to demonstrate remarkable resolve, actively finding new paths forward to secure a stable future for their children. The report highlights that 44 percent of respondents are actively seeking better-paying jobs or pursuing career promotions, 21 percent are taking the entrepreneurial leap to start a business or a side business, and 14 percent are investing their time and limited resources into career-building education, professional certifications, or trade training programs. These ongoing efforts underscore the deep-seated resilience of communities navigating an uncertain and challenging future.
