The Next Economic Imperative: Undocumented Immigrants in the 2010 Census
By Afton Branche, Research Assistant
Executive Summary
Every ten years, some populations are inadvertently undercounted in the U.S. Census. Of all of these groups, undocumented immigrants are the only one facing an effort to deliberately exclude them from the constitutionally-mandated count. This year, opposition to counting undocumented immigrants is particularly strong.
The United States cannot afford to exclude undocumented immigrants from the 2010 Census. Failing to gather accurate information about an estimated 12 million undocumented residents will make it too difficult for the country to recover from the worst recession in decades: local and state governments won’t receive adequate funding for public services; businesses will be discouraged from investing in new markets and creating jobs in growing communities; costly mistakes will be made in infrastructure, education, and health care because of incomplete demographic data.
This is the first major policy research paper to analyze the latest data and evidence showing how all Americans will benefit from the inclusion of undocumented immigrants in the 2010 Census. It explains why a demographic profile of this population must become the next economic imperative and refutes common misconceptions about the census.
Key Findings
• A complete national demographic profile of undocumented residents is necessary to provide adequate federal resources for state and local programs that impact all residents, helping to prevent budget cuts in critical areas such as public education, infrastructure, transportation, and healthcare.
• An accurate count of undocumented families will mean better English language and vocational programs so that these immigrants – and their U.S.-born children – can acquire the improved skills to contribute economically and generate tax revenue for their communities.
• As policymakers focus on economic recovery, census data on undocumented residents will enable businesses to maximize scarce resources, limit investment risk, and create new markets in places where immigration is boosting the overall population and spurring economic demand.
• Undocumented immigrants will not inflate or distort population totals used for apportionment or districting; instead, their inclusion will enable citizens to leverage the political power they are entitled to under the U.S. Constitution.
Read The Next Economic Imperative: Undocumented Immigrants in the 2010 Census in its entirety
By Afton Branche, Research Assistant
Executive Summary
Every ten years, some populations are inadvertently undercounted in the U.S. Census. Of all of these groups, undocumented immigrants are the only one facing an effort to deliberately exclude them from the constitutionally-mandated count. This year, opposition to counting undocumented immigrants is particularly strong.
The United States cannot afford to exclude undocumented immigrants from the 2010 Census. Failing to gather accurate information about an estimated 12 million undocumented residents will make it too difficult for the country to recover from the worst recession in decades: local and state governments won’t receive adequate funding for public services; businesses will be discouraged from investing in new markets and creating jobs in growing communities; costly mistakes will be made in infrastructure, education, and health care because of incomplete demographic data.
This is the first major policy research paper to analyze the latest data and evidence showing how all Americans will benefit from the inclusion of undocumented immigrants in the 2010 Census. It explains why a demographic profile of this population must become the next economic imperative and refutes common misconceptions about the census.
Key Findings
• A complete national demographic profile of undocumented residents is necessary to provide adequate federal resources for state and local programs that impact all residents, helping to prevent budget cuts in critical areas such as public education, infrastructure, transportation, and healthcare.
• An accurate count of undocumented families will mean better English language and vocational programs so that these immigrants – and their U.S.-born children – can acquire the improved skills to contribute economically and generate tax revenue for their communities.
• As policymakers focus on economic recovery, census data on undocumented residents will enable businesses to maximize scarce resources, limit investment risk, and create new markets in places where immigration is boosting the overall population and spurring economic demand.
• Undocumented immigrants will not inflate or distort population totals used for apportionment or districting; instead, their inclusion will enable citizens to leverage the political power they are entitled to under the U.S. Constitution.
Read The Next Economic Imperative: Undocumented Immigrants in the 2010 Census in its entirety