The 2020 Census undercounted the Hispanic or Latino population by nearly 5 percent, up from 1.54 percent in 2010; Black or African American individuals by 3.3 percent, and; American Indian or Alaska Natives in reservations by 5.64 percent

April 1, 2022 - Washington - Senator Dianne Feinstein joined Senators Bob Menendez, Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) and Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz (both D-Hawaii) and a group of their colleagues to urge the Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau to provide answers on what the bureau is doing to address the decades-long problem of undercounting minority communities across the country – a problem the previous administration intentionally made worse while the 2020 Census was being conducted.

“We write to you with serious concerns about the 2020 Census and its undercounting of Hispanic or Latino, Black, and Native American individuals,” wrote the senators in a letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Santos. “Earlier this month, the U.S. Census Bureau released its National Census Coverage Estimates for People in the United States by Demographic Characteristics, which is a 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey Estimation Report. This report revealed an undercount of Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Some Other Race populations.” 

According to the Census’ post-enumeration report, the 2020 Census undercounted the Hispanic or Latino population by nearly 5 percent, up from 1.54 percent in 2010. Black or African American individuals were uncounted by 3.3 percent, and American Indian or Alaska Natives in reservations were undercounted by 5.64 percent – the most significant undercount margin of all demographic groups. 

The senators acknowledged the pandemic affected the Bureau’s outreach, data collection process and other aspects of the census operation. However, they highlighted that before the COVID-19 pandemic the previous administration made significant efforts to depress participation in the 2020 Census, particularly in immigrant and Latino communities. 

“The prior Administration insisted on numerous occasions the inclusion of a citizenship question in the non-partisan 2020 Census. It went so far as to ask the Supreme Court to review a case and decide whether a citizenship question could be included in the 2020 Census,” added the senators. “Although this question was ultimately not included in the 2020 Census, and despite numerous outreach efforts, these actions, and the public coverage thereof, undoubtedly influenced minority communities’ participation in the latest Census, particularly in the Hispanic and Latino populations.” 

The senators concluded by focusing on how the undercounting of Latino, Black and Native American individuals deeply affects already disadvantaged and underserved communities. 

“As you are aware, an accurate decennial census is not only a constitutional responsibility of the federal government, but its results determine the apportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, guide the allocation of nearly $1.5 trillion in federal funds annually, and are used to draw legislative districts within the states,” concluded the senators. “We ask the U.S. Census Bureau to consider ways to correct the undercount in the annual population estimates derived from 2020 Census data and reiterate its commitment to counting all persons in future decennial censuses.”

In addition to Feinstein, Menendez, Booker, Hirono and Schatz, the letter was also signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.). 

Find a full copy of the letter here and below.

Dear Secretary Raimondo and Director Santos:  

We write to you with serious concerns about the 2020 Census and its undercounting of Hispanic or Latino, Black, and Native American individuals. We request information regarding steps that the U.S. Census Bureau is taking to ensure that every person is counted and how we can jointly address the decades-long problem of undercounting minority communities in the country. 

Earlier this month, the U.S. Census Bureau released its National Census Coverage Estimates for People in the United States by Demographic Characteristics, which is a 2020 Post-Enumeration Survey Estimation Report. This report revealed an undercount of Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Some Other Race populations.[1] The 2020 Census undercounted the Hispanic or Latino population by 4.99 percent, up from 1.54 percent in 2010 and more than three times the percentage of the previous census. Similarly, individuals who identify as “some other race” had an undercount three times that of the previous census. In the case of Black or African American individuals, the report revealed an undercount of 3.30 percent, nearly twice the undercount of the 2010 Census. Finally, American Indian or Alaska Natives in reservations had the greatest undercount of all at 5.64 percent. 

We are aware of the challenges the U.S. Census Bureau faced to conduct the 2020 Census. A devastating pandemic was detrimental to the Bureau’s outreach, data collection process, and other aspects of the census operation. However, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump Administration made significant efforts to depress participation in the 2020 Census, particularly in immigrant and Latino communities. The prior Administration insisted on numerous occasions on the inclusion of a citizenship question in the non-partisan 2020 Census. It went so far as to ask the Supreme Court to review a case and decide whether a citizenship question could be included in the 2020 Census.[2] Although this question was ultimately not included in the 2020 Census, and despite numerous outreach efforts, these actions, and the public coverage thereof, undoubtedly influenced minority communities’ participation in the latest Census, particularly in the Hispanic and Latino populations. 

The undercounting of Latino, Black and Native American individuals deeply affects already disadvantaged communities in a plethora of ways, most acutely in the allocation of federal funding and government representation. As you are aware, an accurate decennial census is not only a constitutional responsibility of the federal government, but its results determine the apportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, guide the allocation of nearly $1.5 trillion in federal funds annually, and are used to draw legislative districts within the states.  

We ask the U.S. Census Bureau to consider ways to correct the undercount in the annual population estimates derived from 2020 Census data and reiterate its commitment to counting all persons in future decennial censuses. In addition, we ask the Bureau to provide a plan for how it will ensure such undercounting in the four groups outlined above does not repeat itself. 

We appreciate your attention to this issue­­­_­­, and we look forward to your response.