March 30, 2018

CCC Deeply Concerned About 2020 Census

Citizens’ Committee for Children (CCC) shares the concerns of many over the inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 Census.

“The Census Bureau creates reality,” said Joseph J. Salvo, the chief demographer for the Department of City Planning, in a recent NY Times article. “The Census Bureau’s first priority should always be maximum response. Anything they do to compromise that, frankly, works against their main mission.”

Coupled with the federal administration’s hostile rhetoric toward immigrants, a question about citizenship on the Census may lead to an undercount, particularly in areas with large immigrant populations, such as New York City.  An inaccurate Census count would have multiple negative effects, from local service providers not having accurate information about the population they are serving to insufficient federal funding for vital programs and services.

At CCC, we rely on data from the Census Bureau to maintain Keeping Track Online, illustrating the conditions in which NYC’s 1.8 million children and their families live. The data help us to identify the barriers to well-being they face and to work side by side with our community partners to unearth possible solutions.

Read more about the dangers of adding a question about citizenship to the 2020 census count.

Tags
2020 census, immigration

Comments
0