What seems like a simple question — How many Latinos are living in the United States? — has become surprisingly complex as the 2010 census approaches.
Latinos and other minorities have historically been undercounted in the once-a-decade survey. Advocacy groups are launching their traditional efforts to ensure an accurate count, but a variety of factors have created new problems for the painting of America’s official portrait.
Activists and government officials say fears over immigration enforcement and government snooping are making people more reluctant to share their information. The economic meltdown and Bush administration budget cuts have slowed funding for the census.
Millions of laid-off renters and foreclosed homeowners are on the move.
There are more immigrants, speaking more languages, than ever before. Some of those immigrants might not know what a census is or might come from countries where such information is used against rather than for the people.
“This country is just much more complex now, on many different levels,” said Terry Ao, director of census and voting programs for the Asian American Justice Center.
The exploding Latino population has been widely noted in political circles, and Latinos were considered a key component of Barack Obama’s presidential victory in such states as Florida, Nevada and Colorado.
Latino groups are now at the forefront of a coalition spanning politics, social services and Spanish-language media that is planning a broad census effort.
They are hoping to partner with the Census Bureau on community-based programs, public service announcements and paid advertising.
“We’re prepared to mount our own national campaign to count ourselves,” said Efrain Escobedo, senior director of civic engagement for the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. “We are going to motivate every ounce of people power that we have . . . to let people know it’s so critical for your child’s education, and for your services in the community.”
The Census Bureau seems receptive to these efforts. It will mail bilingual forms to 13 million homes this year, a first. It has a more accurate database of addresses and demographic information thanks to the annual American Community Survey, which began in 2001.
