05/19/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/19/2022 15:24
CONTACT:
Marcus Silva,
Luis Acosta,[email protected]
(956) 460-3598
Census estimates revealed a severe and devastating 4.99 percent undercount of Latinos in Census 2020; detailed state and local data are critical to understanding and
ameliorating the undercount's impact on the community
"With several factors likely contributing to the Latino undercount in the 2020 Census, it is imperative that the U.S. Census Bureau rebuilds its trust with the public by releasing data that provides insight into the severe undercount of the Latino community."
- NALEO Educational Fund CEO Arturo Vargas
"With Latinos accounting for nearly one of every five U.S. residents, the PES estimates confirming the national undercount of Latinos is very alarming," said NALEO Educational Fund CEO Arturo Vargas. "We have urged the Bureau to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the undercount on the Latino community and the options to ameliorate it. The Bureau must move forward with this undertaking transparently and in partnership with the full range of public and private stakeholders, including data experts, state and local governments, and community and civic leaders. However, we cannot achieve this goal without relevant data on the undercount of Latinos by state and for different localities throughout the nation.
"For example, New York City has a population larger than 40 states and Washington, D.C., and over one-fourth (28.3 percent) of the city's 8.8 million residents are Latino. Without additional undercount data, we will not be able to fully gauge the total severity of the Latino undercount within each state and in different parts of the nation.
"The PES state estimates do not tell the whole story of the accuracy of the 2020 Census count for different population groups or areas in the states. For example, New York is the nation's fourth most populous state, and the national undercounts suggest that large numbers of persons from population groups that make New York their home were missed in Census 2020. However, the PES estimates are net figures derived in part from both the 2020 Census omissions and persons overcounted in the enumeration. Thus, in the 3.44 percent net New York overcount,the persons overcounted in the state may mask the impact of the persons missed in enumeration and other significant problems with the overall accuracy of census data for New York.
"Based on our work with and research on historically undercounted communities, we believe it is likely that Census 2020's accuracy varied in different regions of the states. For example, areas with large concentrations of Latinos, Black residents, and young children - such as the Boroughs of Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens - are likely to have had the highest undercounts, while places with large concentrations of non-Hispanic whites and wealthy residents - such as areas in Manhattan, Long Island, or upstate New York - likely had overcounts.
"However, without specific Latino undercount data and data on other New York population groups throughout the state, we cannot determine precisely where and to what extent these population groups were missed.
"Data from the 2020 Census have already been used to apportion the U.S. House of Representatives and for redistricting, despite the considerable flaws in the number of Latinos. In addition, unless the Bureau takes action to analyze and mitigate the impact of the undercount, these flawed data will now guide the distribution of more than $1.5 trillion in annual federal funding to states and localities based on an incorrect snapshot of our population. Without reliable state-by-state data on the undercount for different population groups and localities, stakeholders cannot be fully engaged partners in the much-needed efforts to mitigate the effect of the undercounts on funding formulas and the fair allocation of resources. These data will also enhance the ability of stakeholders to help the Bureau assess the impact of the undercounts on the enforcement of civil rights protections and other purposes for which census data are used. Additionally, these data would also be invaluable for Census 2030 planning efforts.
"We understand the Census Bureau's position that the PES sample size is not adequate enough to produce data that meet the Bureau's standards for every demographic group in each state or many localities in the nation. Thus, we urge the Bureau to research and make available data from other sources that could help illuminate the accuracy of Census 2020 data for localities. This research will also inform the Bureau's work to ameliorate the impact of Census 2020 undercounts.
"Ultimately, with several factors likely contributing to the national Latino undercount in the 2020 Census, the release of more detailed state and local data will also provide a crucial opportunity for the Bureau to rebuild its trust with the public. The data would also enable stakeholders to work together with the Bureau on one of the toughest tasks it must undertake - making fundamental changes to how it counts the U.S. population in a manner that will significantly enhance the accuracy and fairness of the enumeration."
Key Findings of the PES Data:
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About NALEO Educational Fund
NALEO Educational Fund is the nation's leading non-profit, non-partisan organization that facilitates the full participation of Latinos in the American political process, from citizenship to public service.