Counting Us Out? Why Everyone Should Care about the Census Undercount

Demos will host an expert panel discussion on the 2010 decennial census count and its implications for residents (citizens and non-citizens alike) and communities all around the nation. This event coincides with U.S. Census workers beginning their outreach and efforts to reach the nation’s nearly 12 million undocumented immigrants which has already raised concerns over whether there will be an accurate tally of immigrant residents, both documented and undocumented. The interests of native-born residents are also served by the inclusion of non-citizens; census data affect policy decisions, government funding levels, and the political apportionment of congressional districts. Immigrant communities clearly have much at stake in ensuring that their members are fully counted. Why should citizens care about whether non-citizens are counted?