Asian-American Community Is L.A. County's Fastest-Growing Population

By City News Service

Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles County continued to increase steadily over the past decade, even as overall population growth slowed to a near standstill, according to a report issued Wednesday.

The county's Asian American population remained its fastest growing segment, increasing by 20 percent, nearly twice that of Latinos, between 2000 and 2010, the report by Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Los Angeles, said.

Asians make up 19.8 percent of unincorporated La Cresenta-Montrose and 16.3 percent of Glendale, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander segment grew by 9 percent, approaching the rate of Latinos over the same period.

By comparison, the county's total population grew only 3 percent over the decade.

"Our communities are growing and making real contributions to Los Angeles' economy, but many also need help," said Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director of AAAJ, Los Angeles. "This growth deepens the urgency of our public policy concerns."

There are nearly 930,000 Asian American and 7,700 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander immigrants in the county, according to data included in the report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security shows that more than 310,000 Asian American and 1,300 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander immigrants countywide obtained legal permanent resident status between 2000 and 2010.

The report estimates that roughly 130,000 Asian Americans in Los Angeles County do not have legal permission to be in the country.

"Promoting access to services is critical, particularly among those who are limited-English proficient or struggling in this tough economy," said Betty Hung, policy director at AAAJ, Los Angeles. "Many in our communities are undocumented, so these services need to be accessible to everyone regardless of immigration status."

AAAJ is a national affiliation of nonprofit civil rights organizations.