Alma is a devoted Mexican mother who relocates her family to Delaware seeking special education for her daughter. She feels disoriented by the language barrier and cultural differences in the United States, struggling with tasks like finding familiar groceries. She is deeply protective of her family and feels lingering guilt over the accident that caused her daughter's condition.

Arturo is a stoic Mexican father who leaves his comfortable life and business behind to move to the United States. He works long hours picking mushrooms for less than minimum wage to secure a better future for his daughter. He bears his exhausting work schedule quietly, trying to remain optimistic while supporting his family.

Maribel is a teenage girl from Mexico attending a special education school in Delaware. She is recovering from a severe brain injury sustained from falling off a ladder, which affects her memory and communication skills. Formerly headstrong and rebellious, she slowly begins to rediscover her independence and connect with those around her.

Mayor is the teenage son of Panamanian immigrants who feels like an outsider in his own family and at school. Lacking the athletic abilities prized by his father, he struggles to find his place until he meets his new neighbor. He is observant, protective, and increasingly willing to rebel against his parents' strict expectations.

Rafael is a proud Panamanian immigrant who works as a cook at a local diner. He places heavy emphasis on traditional masculinity, pressuring his sons to be athletic and refusing to let his wife work outside the home. He values his status as a United States citizen and provides a strict but structured home for his family.

Celia is a compassionate Panamanian immigrant who acts as a stabilizing force in her apartment building. She easily connects with the other residents and helps newcomers adjust to life in America by sharing local resources and advice. She manages her husband's pride with subtle diplomacy while supporting both of her sons.

Garrett is a troubled teenage boy living in a nearby neighborhood called Capitol Oaks. Dealing with significant family dysfunction, including a brother lost to war and a father struggling with alcohol, he acts out aggressively. He targets weaker peers at school and menaces people in the community.

Enrique is Mayor's older brother, currently away at college on a soccer scholarship. He represents their father's ideal of athletic success but experiences a growing distance from his immigrant parents' lifestyle. He provides a brief model of rebellion for his younger brother during his visits home.

Quisaqueya is a Venezuelan immigrant living in the same apartment building as the Toros and Riveras. Carrying a traumatic past involving sexual assault, she isolates herself emotionally from men and relies on alimony to survive, volunteering at a hospital in her spare time. She often alienates her neighbors with her suspicion and tendency to spread malicious gossip.

Benny is a Nicaraguan immigrant currently working at Burger King in Delaware. Originally intending to become a priest, he escaped his home country and endured a dangerous journey involving captivity before establishing a quiet, stable life.

Gustavo is an immigrant from Guatemala who works two menial jobs cleaning movie theaters. He moved to the United States alone to fund his children's college education in Mexico following the death of his wife.

Fito is the Paraguayan landlord of the apartment building where the main characters live. Originally moving to the United States to pursue a career in boxing, he ended up managing and eventually purchasing the building after losing an arm-wrestling match to the previous owner.

Nelia is a theater owner from Puerto Rico who initially moved to New York City to become a Broadway dancer. Facing limited opportunities for Latina actresses, she moved to Delaware to create her own stage and provide roles for young actors of color.

Jose is a Puerto Rican American Navy veteran who spent his youth traveling the world. He now suffers from poor vision and enjoys a quiet life listening to audiobooks and hearing his wife read poetry to him.

Micho is a Mexican photographer who works with an immigrant aid group. He documents the living conditions and discrimination faced by Latinos in America, having grown disillusioned with his previous work covering cartel violence in Mexico.

William is a high school student and friend to Mayor Toro. He temporarily loses contact with Mayor during his friend's developing romance but remains a steady, normal presence in his life away from family pressures.