WASHINGTON — Hispanic Heritage Month officially kicked off its celebrations on Monday, Sept. 15, and lasts through Oct. 15 as a way to highlight the histories, contributions and communities of those with Hispanic or Latino roots.

The monthlong celebration each year showcases the diversity and culture of Hispanic people, the country's fastest-growing racial or ethnic minority, according to the U.S. census . The group includes those with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Hispanic Heritage Month comes at a time in the U.S. when more than 68 million people identify as ethnically Hispanic, according to the latest census estimates .

But this year, the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns and a federally led English-only initiative have imp

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