One in Four American Children Has an Immigrant Parent, and Many Are Quietly Serving as Their Family’s Translator

Behind the headlines about immigration policy is a much larger and quieter story about childhood in America, according to a new report from The Mendoza Law Firm. Based on 2024 U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data, 26% of U.S. children, about one in four or nearly 20 million kids, have at least one immigrant parent. That share has grown from about one in five in 2000. The overwhelming majority of these children are Americans: 88% are U.S. citizens, and only 3% of all U.S. children are noncitizens themselves. Most of their families are long established, with more than 40% of immigrant children having parents who have lived in the U.S. for over 20 years. Second-generation Americans are projected to make up 16% of all U.S. adults by 2050, double their 8% share in 2012.

The report finds that these children are unevenly spread across the country. California has the highest share, with 45% of its children, about 3.8 million, having an immigrant parent. New Jersey follows at 43%, then New York at 38%, and Florida and Nevada at 36% each. Texas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington, and Rhode Island complete the top 10, all at 30% or above. Texas ranks sixth by share but is home to 2.5 million children of immigrants, the second largest total after California. Maryland shows how fast the change is happening: its share has more than doubled, from 15% in the early 2000s to 32% today. The share has grown in nearly every state since 2000 and has more than doubled in 16 of them. At the other end, West Virginia (3%) and Mississippi (under 5%) have the lowest shares. In classrooms, more than 5.3 million English learners are now enrolled in K-12 public schools, nearly 11% of all public school students.

For many of these children, growing up means living between two languages. About 56% of children of immigrants are bilingual, speaking English fluently while using another language at home, and 71% of those bilingual children speak Spanish. Because 59% of children of immigrants have at least one parent with limited English, many become the family’s bridge to English-speaking institutions. Research shows that up to 90% of immigrant and refugee children act as translators to some degree. They interpret at medical appointments, translate school documents, and help parents navigate government and legal systems. The report calls this “language brokering.” It can strengthen family bonds and independence, but 18% to 20% of child language brokers experience significant psychological distress tied to that level of responsibility.

Economic circumstances also differ sharply depending on a parent’s status. The national child poverty rate is about 18%. For children of immigrants, it ranges from 9% among families with no added risk factors to 48% among those whose parents are noncitizens, have limited English and education, and have been in the U.S. for fewer than 10 years. Children with only noncitizen parents are three to four times more likely to live in poverty than children with citizen parents, even though 74% of children in immigrant families live with two married parents, compared with 61% in U.S. born families.

The report also documents growing emotional strain. A 2025 survey published in Child Development Perspectives found that 27% of immigrant parents said their children worried about something immigration related happening to a family member, rising to six in ten among undocumented families. Some parents reported sleep or eating problems in their children (18%), school performance or attendance issues (14%), and behavior changes (12%). Also, 14% said their child had delayed or missed medical care because of immigration fears, a share that climbed to 43% among undocumented parents. After federal protections limiting enforcement near schools were rescinded in January 2025, enforcement activity was linked to a 22% increase in daily student absences. The American Academy of Pediatrics considers fear of parental deportation a form of toxic stress that can affect children’s physical, mental, and behavioral health, whatever their own citizenship status.

Despite those pressures, the long-term picture shows strong upward mobility. About 92% of children of immigrants complete high school, comparable to their peers. As adults, second-generation Americans report higher median household incomes than first-generation adults ($58,000 vs. $46,000) and lower poverty rates (11% vs. 18%). The language skills many built out of necessity also pay off. Multilingual employees earn an average of 19% more than monolingual workers, which would mean about $15,200 a year extra on an $80,000 salary, and 90% of U.S. employers rely on some employees who speak languages other than English.

“These children are translating doctor’s visits and school forms at an age when most kids are worried about homework,” said a spokesperson for The Mendoza Law Firm. “They carry real responsibility and, too often, real fear. They also grow into some of the most capable, bilingual, and resilient adults in our communities. The vast majority are American citizens, and they deserve stability, support, and the chance to simply be kids.”