Concerns over citizenship question of 2020 U.S. Census Survey

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors and the Latino Caucus of California Counties are both voicing concerns over a questions about citizenship that may be included in the 2020 U.S. Census survey.

The Department of Justice is requesting the citizenship questions, saying the move is to better enforce the Voting Rights Acts. The Department of Commerce is the agency tasked with conducting the census.

Local leaders sent them a letter saying there’s already fear in the immigrant community and people could be afraid to respond. A lot is at stake with a bad count.

“We lose potentially millions and millions of dollars here in Monterey County and Salinas and the cities because the federal government allocates money and resources based on population,” said Monterey County Supervisor Simon Salinas. “So whether it’s for roads, for infrastructure, healthcare, social programs, we would be negatively impacted if this question in there and we don’t get an accurate count.”

And it could change the political landscape. Salinas said in a worst case scenario, California could lose up to three seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

We asked people in East Salinas, if the citizenship question was included, did they think people would respond?

“I think that it’s important that we participate,” Irma Gabriel said. “But out of fear they’re not going to because they’re scared of being deported because of how the politics are.”

The Commerce Department responded to the letters, saying they are doing a review of the request and that a complete list of questions would be submitted to Congress by the end of the month.