"The melting pot is dead. Long live the salad bowl."

Two-thirds of Latinos ages 16 to 25 are native-born Americans, according to the report. This year, it said, is the first time that a plurality of the group, 37 percent, are the American-born children of immigrants; just 34 percent are immigrants.

But the findings suggest, as the report states, “The melting pot is dead. Long live the salad bowl,” when it comes to how young Latinos and others perceive their place in America.

When asked how they first described themselves, 52 percent said their preference was for their family’s country of origin — Dominican, Mexican, Cuban, etc. — over American, which 24 percent favored. Even fewer, 20 percent, responded Hispanic or Latino…

“Generally, among young Hispanics, their parents are more likely to talk of pride in being from a specific country of origin and encourage them to speak Spanish,” Mr. Lopez said. “There is a strong emphasis on Hispanic cultural identity.”