Citizenship question in 2020 Census is unnecessary!

April 4, 2018

REP. ROSARIO DENOUNCES CITIZENSHIP QUESTION IN CENSUS

Chair of the legislature’s Black and Puerto Rican Caucus, State Rep. Christopher Rosario (D-Bridgeport), is condemning the White House’s announcement to include a question regarding the US Citizenship status of respondents of the 2020 Census.

Rep. Rosario is a member of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL), which represents the voices of more than 400 Hispanic state legislators from across the country, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, and is also highly critical of the inclusion of this question.

“A citizenship question on the Census 2020 is unnecessary, untimely and costly. We will not stand for yet another assault on Latinos, immigrants and our democracy,” Rep. Rosario said. “In the 2010 Census, our state population was 3,576,452 of which at least 15% are Latinos - while African Americans represented over 11% with a much more accurate count expected in 2020.”

“We are outraged that in the 21st Century the federal government would interfere politically with the nation’s Census. Our state and local governments depend on having the most accurate data possible for the apportionment of our districts, for the formulas several federal agencies and Congress use to appropriate taxpayer resources, and to have a sound system of counting every person in this country, regardless of citizenship or immigration status. The Constitution of the United States guarantees that every person shall be counted, and we intend to fight this decision to the very end so that this sacred constitutional provision is respected,” NHCSL President and Senator Carmelo Ríos (PR) said.

Rosario noted, “The Census allows for funding streams and redistricting processes for our communities, and an inaccurate count will severely affect us all. I join NHCSL in calling on the Administration to reverse course. If they ignore the pleas from experts around the country, then Congress has a duty to protect the integrity of our Census.”

NHCSL is the premier national association of Hispanic state legislators working to design and implement policies and procedures that will improve the quality of life for Hispanics throughout the country. The group was founded in 1989 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3 with the mission to be the most effective voice for the more than 400 Hispanic legislators nationwide.