The New Voices Among Us: Mayan and Indigenous Latin American Languages in the U.S. (2025)

In the heart of Los Angeles, a courtroom pauses as an interpreter translates not from Spanish, but from Mam, a Mayan language. Scenes like this are increasingly common across the United States as growing numbers of immigrants from Latin America speak Indigenous languages like K’iche’, Q’anjob’al, Mam, Mixtec, and others. These migrants, often fleeing poverty, discrimination, and violence, face unique challenges as they adapt to life in the U.S.

A Growing Community Across the U.S.

Immigration trends from Central America have brought a significant number of Indigenous people to the U.S., particularly from Guatemala. The Guatemalan American population grew from about 1.04 million in 2010 to 1.88 million in 2022, with a large portion of this increase being Indigenous Maya. Many of these migrants speak little or no Spanish, complicating their integration into American society. The most commonly spoken Mayan languages include Mam, Q’anjob’al, K’iche’, and Akatek.

California remains the state with the largest population of Indigenous language speakers, especially in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Florida, Texas, and New York are also home to significant communities. In Florida, Palm Beach County has seen a rapid rise in Maya residents, with an estimated 50,000 Maya people living in the state today. Texas and New York have also become key destinations for Indigenous language speakers, particularly those from Guatemala.

Grassroots Solutions and Advocacy

Despite these challenges, Indigenous communities are finding ways to empower themselves. Community-led programs are training interpreters in languages like Mam and Q’anjob’al to provide better access to health care and legal representation. Organizations like the Guatemalan-Maya Center in Florida and Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (CIELO) in Los Angeles are leading efforts to improve language access and cultural understanding.

On a national level, advocacy groups have successfully pushed for initiatives like the Department of Homeland Security’s Indigenous Languages Plan, which aims to improve communication with Indigenous-language speakers during the immigration process.

The presence of Mayan and other Indigenous Latin American languages in the U.S. is growing and evolving. Their speakers are working to overcome significant challenges, from legal misunderstandings to educational barriers. Grassroots efforts are making a difference, but much work remains to be done to ensure these communities are truly heard and understood. As more people become aware of their struggles and contributions, the call for language justice continues to grow.

For readers of the Mayan Languages.net blog and those interested in cultural equity, the message is clear: Indigenous language speakers are here, their voices matter, and their resilience deserves recognition and support.