The number of people of Latino and Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) descent in the United States has more than doubled in the past 20 years, but this group is still often ignored. This finding comes from an analysis by UCLA's Latino Institute of Politics and Policy, which examined Census Bureau data from 2000, 2010, and 2022. According to the survey, the Latino AAPI population increased from 350,000 to 886,000 during that period.

Jie Zong, a senior research analyst, explained that the analysis considered individuals who identify as Latino and specified to be of an Asian race. Kevin Kandamby, a graduate student and member of the research team, pointed out that the mixed population of Asians and Latinos is now more common, though still understudied. Most Asian or Pacific Islander Latinos are Asian immigrants from Latin America or U.S. citizens with parents of both origins.

Historically, interaction between Latinos and Asians or Pacific Islanders in the U.S. has roots in periods of high demand for labor, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and marriages between Punjabi and Mexican farm workers in the early 20th century.

The Associated Press story cites figures such as state Rep. Sonny Ganaden, who is of Filipino and Mexican descent, as highlighting the complexity of feeling part of two cultures. Olivia Yuen, an artist from Phoenix with a Chinese father and a Mexican mother, and Isabella Chavez of Killeen, Texas, with a Korean mother and a Mexican father, shared their experiences of growing up in culturally mixed homes, often feeling displaced or not sufficiently belonging to either culture.

AAPI Latinos tend to rank above Latinos overall, but below Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in terms of schooling and home ownership. About 33 percent of AAPI Latinos hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared with 55 percent of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and 19 percent of Latinos.

Kandamby hopes to raise awareness of Latino AAPI identity and show how life experience can vary within this population. He advocates for the inclusion of this group in the conversations and the recognition of their specific needs, according to the article.