For nearly two decades, more immigrants from Asia have been moving to California than from Latin America, marking a significant demographic shift in the state. This trend is reshaping California’s immigrant landscape, with Asian immigrants now outnumbering their Latino counterparts. The change is largely driven by the H-1B visa program, which brings in highly skilled workers, particularly from India and China. In 2024, nearly 79,000 skilled workers came to California through this program, with tech giants like Google, Meta, and Apple sponsoring many of them, according to the Los Angeles Times.
In contrast, fewer lower-skilled workers are arriving from Latin America. While California’s immigrant population is still predominantly from Latin America, the annual flow now includes a higher percentage from Asia. In 2022, 46% of California immigrants were from Asia, compared to 38% from Latin America. This shift is not mirrored in the rest of the United States, where Latinos remain the largest immigrant group.
Demographic experts suggest that President Trump’s immigration policies could further accelerate this trend by restricting immigration from the southern border while maintaining pathways for skilled workers through visa programs. The effects of these policies are yet to be fully realized, but they could lead to significant changes in the state’s cultural and economic landscape. Despite the influx of Asian immigrants, challenges remain, such as discrimination and the risk of deportation, as highlighted by Stop AAPI Hate.
The demographic shift in California is part of a broader national trend where the United States continues to be a major destination for immigrants, with 47.8 million residing in the country as of 2023, according to the Migration Policy Institute.
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