US Census Reveals Record High Immigrant Population, Middle Eastern and Venezuelan Communities on the Rise

The 2020 U.S. Census Bureau data reveals that there are 3.5 million Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) residents in the United States, with Lebanese and Iranian being the largest groups. Venezuelans were the fastest-growing Hispanic group, nearly tripling their numbers due to the ongoing crisis in their home country. Mexicans remain the largest Hispanic group, followed by Puerto Ricans and Salvadorans. Chinese and Asian Indians are the two largest Asian groups, while Cherokee is the largest American Indian and Alaska Native group. The census data also highlights the need for updated racial and ethnic categories to better reflect the diverse population of the United States.