As of 2012, there were over 33 million people of Mexican heritage living in the United States, within an overall population of roughly 314 million. Thus, Americans from Mexico or possessing Mexican heritage now account for roughly ten percent of the total U.S. population.

Mexican immigrants have changed American culture in many ways. As did the Irish and the Italians, the Mexicans brought their own form of Catholicism into a largely Protestant country. Mission-style architecture dominates much of the Southwest as do adobe houses. Mexican foods such as tacos, salsa, and burritos have become as much a part of American culture as Italian or Chinese food has.

Mission in San Antonio, Texas	Mexican adobe style house in the American Southwest

American English has also been transformed by the introduction of Spanish words, largely from Mexican immigrants. Ranch, tomato, cafeterias, plaza, canyon, patio, and silo are all very commonly used words that English speakers have borrowed from Spanish. Finally, many U.S. place names are based on their Mexican precursors. Think of Los Angeles, San Diego, San Antonio, and San Francisco.