Why Our Participation in the 2020 Census Matters Now More Than Ever
By Ecleen Luzmila Caraballo
I chose this article because it the time of year where we all have to fill up the census. The census is an official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals. This is important because it ensures public services and funding for schools, hospitals, and fire departments. It also plans new homes, businesses and improves neighborhoods. The last reason is that the census determines the seats in each state is allocated in the House of Representatives. However, displacement is shown in the census because Latinos are not participating due to their citizenship status. Latinos fear that they would get deported or problems would be created. Before people learned about Title 13, the US penal code, Latinos would not file in the census. In 2010 at least 770,000 Latinos were undercounted or unaccounted for entirely and we can clearly see how this shaped their lives. In addition, with the coronavirus crisis occurring this affects the community. Some may not have the availability to use the internet so they will be miscounted. It’s known that if you don’t file the census online then people who work for them would assist you by going to your house and do it for you. Since people are losing their jobs, the assistance would decrease and some people may not even be counted. Homeless people would also be displaced because, in March, a lot of services were going to be provided for them so that the homeless people would be counted in the census. Once again due to the coronavirus, most of the events got canceled. The 2020 census obviously is getting affected by the coronavirus. Latinos should be aware that their information would not be shared by other parties. With all this going on, the 2020 census should extend their deadlines.
Why Our Participation in the 2020 Census Matters Now More Than Ever
