A new report from Define American and the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center finds that immigrant representation on U.S. television remains marked by major gaps, despite a broader range of stories and nationalities appearing on screen.
Researchers analyzed 201 characters — including 172 immigrants and 29 U.S.-born children of immigrants — across 62 scripted television series aired between July 2023 and June 2025.
The study found that Latino immigrant representation has fallen to its lowest level since the research began, accounting for just 23% of immigrant characters despite Latinos making up roughly 45% of the U.S. immigrant population. It also noted that Latino representation stood at 50% in 2020 before dropping to 34% in 2022 and then to 23% today.
Immigrant characters, however, are still disproportionately associated with crime. Twenty-two percent of immigrant characters were shown participating in criminal activity, while 58% appeared in crime or police procedural series. Researchers reported that "one in four immigrant characters with a job was shown as a criminal," adding that criminal was the most common occupation category among children of immigrants, tied with business ownership.
The report argues that these portrayals conflict with real-world data showing immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans. "Television continues to reinforce" the narrative linking immigrants and crime, the authors wrote.
At the same time, the study identified signs of progress. Streaming platforms accounted for 57% of immigrant representation, compared with 38% on broadcast television and 6% on cable. Writers portrayed characters from 49 nationalities speaking more than 20 languages, reflecting a broader range of immigrant experiences than in previous years.
The Netflix series Mo emerged as a standout example. According to the report, viewers who watched an immigration-focused storyline from the show reported increased understanding of immigrants and asylum seekers. Sixty-two percent said the episode improved their understanding of challenges immigrants face in the United States, while 54% said they were more likely to support refugees or asylum seekers in their communities.
Still, researchers warned that much of immigrant representation remains concentrated in a small number of series. Seventy-seven percent of immigrant characters appeared in supporting roles rather than leading roles, raising concerns about visibility without meaningful storytelling depth.
