NCAPA Slams Decision to Include Citizenship Question in 2020 Census

Washington, DC—The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) released the following statement following Secretary Wilbur Ross’ decision to include a citizenship question in the 2020 Census Questionnaire:

”Once again, the Trump Administration has made a decision that devalues civic participation by communities of color. To include a citizenship question in the 2020 Census Questionnaire not only puts at risk millions of dollars of investments and countless hours of time, it also jeopardizes the very purpose of the Census: to provide an accurate picture of America and how it’s changing. NCAPA urges Secretary Ross to abandon this effort, and if he will not, Congressional leaders should protect the integrity of the Census.”

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC President and Executive Director, John C. Yang, added:

“The decision by Secretary Wilbur Ross to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census is untimely, unnecessary, and unwise.  Adding an untested question at this late date will result in the waste of taxpayer dollars with no reliability in the data obtained.  The Census Bureau itself has recognized that communities are fearful of government surveys in this current environment.  For them to claim that adding this question will somehow give them better or more accurate data flies in the face of their own procedures.  We will fight with our partners to seek removal of this question and ensure a fair and accurate census.”

NCAPA National Director, Gregg Orton added:

“While the citizenship question to be included in the Census is untested, its intentions are far from unclear. Despite broad opposition from a wide range of stakeholders, including the business community, the Administration has chosen its anti-immigrant platform over the integrity of American civic engagement. The Administration will claim that the inclusion of a citizenship question has precedent; however, they know full well that to include a new variable that has been absent for a generation, is effectively introducing an untested element that many participants will have never seen in the Census.

Coupled with their relentless and heartless immigration enforcement, they should be fully aware that their decision could have a massive chilling effect on participation in the Census. How do you make America great again if you don’t know who America is? But perhaps a simpler question is whether this Administration even cares.”

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Based in Washington, D.C., the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans is a coalition of 35 national Asian Pacific American organizations that serves to represent the interests of Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and to provide a national voice for our communities’ concerns. Our communities are the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in the United States, currently making up approximately six percent of the population.