BOSTON — Massachusetts ranks 10th in the nation for the highest rate of anti-Hispanic hate crimes, according to a new report by The Mendoza Law Firm that analyzed FBI hate crime data and Hispanic population figures from 2021 through 2025.
The study found that Massachusetts recorded an average of 27.8 anti-Hispanic hate crimes per year over the five-year period, translating to 2.97 hate crimes per 100,000 Hispanic residents annually. The state is home to an average Hispanic population of approximately 936,853, making it the second-largest Hispanic community among the top 10 states in the ranking, behind only New Jersey.
Oregon topped the list with 6.47 anti-Hispanic hate crimes per 100,000 Hispanic residents, followed by Minnesota, Maine, Washington, Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia, New Jersey and Iowa.
According to the report, Massachusetts’ per-capita rate is nearly 11 times higher than Florida’s, which ranked last with 0.26 anti-Hispanic hate crimes per 100,000 Hispanic residents despite having a Hispanic population of more than 6 million.
Researchers said the findings suggest Massachusetts experiences a level of anti-Hispanic bias that exceeds what population size alone would predict.
The report also tracked annual hate crime totals in Massachusetts, showing fluctuations over the five-year period. The state recorded 26 incidents in 2021 before dropping to 21 in 2022. Reported incidents then increased sharply to 34 in 2023, the highest annual total during the study period, before declining to 29 in both 2024 and 2025.
While the numbers have stabilized over the past two years, researchers noted there has been no sustained downward trend, indicating that anti-Hispanic hate crimes remain an ongoing concern in the Commonwealth.
The study analyzed anti-Hispanic or Latino hate crime data reported through the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer and compared it with Hispanic population estimates for all 50 states. States were ranked based on their average annual number of anti-Hispanic hate crimes per 100,000 Hispanic residents between 2021 and 2025.
The report was produced by The Mendoza Law Firm, an immigration law practice that provides legal services to immigrant communities and advocates for greater awareness of public safety issues affecting Hispanic populations.
