A landmark analysis published in the New England Journal of Medicine's "Medicine and Society" section documents that Latino workers and families are indispensable to American economic growth, workforce participation and public health.
The peer-reviewed study, led by Vincent Guilamo-Ramos and researchers at Johns Hopkins University's Center for the Health of Latino Adolescents and Families, presents evidence countering narratives that Latino communities drain resources. The research also documents the measurable human toll of anti-Latino rhetoric and discriminatory policies, including increased suicide rates, overdose deaths, hate crimes and widespread psychological distress.
"The health of Latino people is the health of the United States," Guilamo-Ramos states in the analysis. "The country can only truly progress when the contributions and needs of Latino communities are recognized and prioritized."
Latino workers comprise 27 percent of home health aides and 22 percent of personal care assistants, according to the research. As the nation's elderly population grows, discriminatory policies that threaten this workforce destabilize the entire healthcare system and impose costs on American households.
Latino entrepreneurs launch businesses at higher rates than white counterparts, and Latino workers are essential in construction, agriculture, hospitality, healthcare and manufacturing sectors.
The analysis documents sharp increases in health crises among Latino populations. Between 2015 and 2023, age-adjusted suicide rates among Latino people surged 32 percent compared to 5 percent among non-Latino populations. Overdose deaths among Latinos climbed 187 percent, more than double the rate in other communities. Hate crimes targeting Latino people more than tripled between 2015 and 2025.
A 2025 survey found that 51 percent of Latino respondents reported increased stress, anxiety, sleep disruption and declining health directly connected to anti-Latino rhetoric and policies.
Latino communities often lack adequate access to culturally and linguistically appropriate healthcare, with mental health services remaining scarce and underfunded. Immigration enforcement creates barriers to seeking medical care or reporting crimes.
The research calls for systemic change, including public correction of false narratives by policymakers and media organizations, expanded investment in mental health services and workforce training, and healthcare systems that deliver culturally competent care.
Coauthor Brenda Amezquita-Castro said: "Latino people are a resource for the United States—not a threat and not a burden. Our contributions help sustain many essential sectors that keep the country functioning and that support the wellbeing of everyone in the United States."
