The inability to keep up with a sharp, unrelenting rise in the cost of living is forcing far too many Latino parents to make difficult, sometimes agonizing decisions that threaten to produce long-term consequences for their families. This stark warning stands at the center of the newly released "National Latino Family Report 2026," a comprehensive study produced by AP-OD, UnidosUS, and BSP Research. Drawing its findings primarily from interviews conducted across Texas, California, and New Mexico—states with some of the largest Latino populations in the nation—the report captures an increasingly familiar and distressing reality: millions of Latino families are grappling with deepening financial hardships while simultaneously bearing a disproportionate and escalating burden of nationwide deportations and immigration enforcement actions.
This profound economic vulnerability persists despite the immense, foundational contributions the community makes to the broader American economy. In 2025 alone, the Latino workforce drove more than $4 trillion in economic output, serving as a vital engine for growth across multiple sectors. Yet, despite this massive economic footprint, the everyday living conditions for the community paint a vastly different picture. According to the survey, which gathered data from 1,300 Latino parents and primary caregivers of young children, an overwhelming 78 percent of the community is currently experiencing what they describe as "only fair or poor" living conditions. This disconnect between economic productivity and personal financial stability has elevated a specific set of urgent priorities for federal lawmakers in Congress and the White House. When asked what issues their elected leaders should tackle first, respondents pointed overwhelmingly to immigration reform, cited by 42 percent; jobs and the economy, at 38 percent; the cost of living and inflation, at 37 percent; housing affordability, at 25 percent; health care, at 20 percent; and border security, cited by 15 percent of those surveyed.
For millions of households across the country, the everyday struggle to make ends meet has become a constant source of stress. If routine necessities such as groceries, health insurance premiums, or childcare fees feel increasingly out of reach, families navigating these pressures are far from alone. Nearly half of all survey respondents—49 percent—reported that their overall financial situation had actively worsened over the course of the past year. To bridge the gap and cover basic monthly expenses, families have been forced to deplete whatever safety nets they managed to build. Specifically, 40 percent of respondents said they had to borrow money from friends or family members just to get by. Another 29 percent have increasingly relied on credit cards, accumulating high-interest debt that threatens their future stability. Furthermore, 21 percent are actively drawing down their dwindling personal savings, while 23 percent have resorted to selling personal belongings to pay for immediate needs. These compounding pressures underscore widespread, urgent calls for decisive legislative action targeting the broader economy, runaway living costs—with a particular emphasis on the prohibitive expense of childcare—and a health care system that many feel is failing them. Across the board, wages simply are not keeping pace with the strenuous work people do every single day.
Beyond the immediate financial strain, immigration policy and enforcement have emerged as deeply pressing sources of fear and disruption within Latino communities. The report sheds light on alarming enforcement trends, revealing that mothers of U.S. citizen children have been subjected to deportation at four times the rate recorded under President Biden. Furthermore, approximately 23 percent of survey respondents reported that friends or family members had been directly detained or deported within the past year alone. This climate of apprehension has been heavily intensified by fears surrounding President Trump’s ongoing mass deportation plans and aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. The resulting psychological and social toll has caused many Latino families with children to alter their daily routines out of fear for their safety and family unity. To avoid potential enforcement actions, significant numbers of parents reported keeping their children home from school, with 35 percent skipping attendance due to fear of raids. Additionally, 24 percent said they avoid talking to local police, 21 percent avoid signing up for public benefits that they may be legally entitled to receive, and 16 percent avoid visiting doctors or seeking necessary medical care. Consequently, 75 percent of respondents now express strong support for comprehensive immigration reform, including expanded protections for recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Despite the heavy weight of these economic and social challenges, Latino communities continue to demonstrate remarkable resolve, actively carving out new pathways forward and refusing to be defined solely by systemic obstacles. The report highlights that 44 percent of respondents are actively seeking better-paying job opportunities or pushing for career promotions to increase their household income. Meanwhile, 21 percent are taking the entrepreneurial route, starting their own small businesses or side enterprises to achieve greater financial independence. Another 14 percent are investing in their futures by pursuing career-building education, professional certifications, or specialized trade training. These proactive efforts vividly underscore the enduring resilience of communities striving to build a stable and prosperous future amid widespread uncertainty.
