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| When It Comes to the Census, the Damage Among Immigrants Is Already Done | When It Comes to the Census, the Damage Among Immigrants Is Already Done |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| LOS ANGELES — Seven days a week in MacArthur Park, a vibrant Latino neighborhood near downtown Los Angeles, Pedro sells mangoes from a cart to passers-by. He has been a regular in the area for 16 years, earning about $800 a month and sending as much as half of that back to his family in Guatemala. | |
| When federal government workers spread out across the country next year to count every United States resident for the census, Pedro, 50, will almost certainly not be included. He and his neighbors are increasingly wary of people they do not recognize, especially those in uniforms. | When federal government workers spread out across the country next year to count every United States resident for the census, Pedro, 50, will almost certainly not be included. He and his neighbors are increasingly wary of people they do not recognize, especially those in uniforms. |
| “We came here to work, just to work, and it is better to keep the door closed,” said Pedro, who did not want to give his full name because he is undocumented. | “We came here to work, just to work, and it is better to keep the door closed,” said Pedro, who did not want to give his full name because he is undocumented. |
| On Thursday, the Supreme Court stopped the Census Bureau, at least for now, from asking residents whether they are American citizens. The court called the Trump administration’s justification for the question “contrived” but left open the possibility that the question could be added in the future. | On Thursday, the Supreme Court stopped the Census Bureau, at least for now, from asking residents whether they are American citizens. The court called the Trump administration’s justification for the question “contrived” but left open the possibility that the question could be added in the future. |
| Critics have accused the administration of attempting to use the question to discourage immigrant communities from participating in the census. An undercount of these communities, which are often in Democratic constituencies, could tilt political power in Congress and state legislatures toward the Republican Party. An undercount, experts say, would also deeply disrupt federal funding for poverty and health care programs, transportation, school planning and even private sector investments in undercounted areas. | Critics have accused the administration of attempting to use the question to discourage immigrant communities from participating in the census. An undercount of these communities, which are often in Democratic constituencies, could tilt political power in Congress and state legislatures toward the Republican Party. An undercount, experts say, would also deeply disrupt federal funding for poverty and health care programs, transportation, school planning and even private sector investments in undercounted areas. |
| But even though some Democrats may perceive the court’s decision as a victory, the damage, many experts say, has already been done. The fear engendered by the administration’s immigration policies will make the job of census workers difficult in primarily immigrant neighborhoods, regardless of whether or not the citizenship question is added. | But even though some Democrats may perceive the court’s decision as a victory, the damage, many experts say, has already been done. The fear engendered by the administration’s immigration policies will make the job of census workers difficult in primarily immigrant neighborhoods, regardless of whether or not the citizenship question is added. |
| [Sign up for our daily newsletter about news from California here.] | [Sign up for our daily newsletter about news from California here.] |
| In predominantly Latino neighborhoods of Los Angeles this week, many people seemed largely unaware of the political machinations in Washington over the citizenship question, and many had never heard of the census. They were, however, concerned about the impending arrival of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the neighborhood for planned raids. | In predominantly Latino neighborhoods of Los Angeles this week, many people seemed largely unaware of the political machinations in Washington over the citizenship question, and many had never heard of the census. They were, however, concerned about the impending arrival of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the neighborhood for planned raids. |
| In MacArthur Park, which is about 85 percent Latino and where Spanish is more commonly spoken than English, there was a sense of confusion. The very people who are being told by activists to keep their doors closed if I.C.E. agents pay a visit are also being told to open their doors for government census workers, so they can be counted. | In MacArthur Park, which is about 85 percent Latino and where Spanish is more commonly spoken than English, there was a sense of confusion. The very people who are being told by activists to keep their doors closed if I.C.E. agents pay a visit are also being told to open their doors for government census workers, so they can be counted. |
| [Here’s what you need to know about the debate over adding a citizenship question to the census.] | [Here’s what you need to know about the debate over adding a citizenship question to the census.] |
| That presents enormous political and logistical challenges in California, the nation’s most populous state, with a large immigrant population. Political leaders in the state worry that they will miss out on federal dollars apportioned by population. The state could also potentially lose a seat in Congress if there is a significant undercount. | That presents enormous political and logistical challenges in California, the nation’s most populous state, with a large immigrant population. Political leaders in the state worry that they will miss out on federal dollars apportioned by population. The state could also potentially lose a seat in Congress if there is a significant undercount. |
| “We have this added challenge, the atmosphere created in D.C. of deep distrust and legitimate fear created in the government, and our undercount could be in the millions,” said Daniel Zingale, a senior strategist for Gov. Gavin Newsom. “The stakes are arguably higher for California than any other state.” | “We have this added challenge, the atmosphere created in D.C. of deep distrust and legitimate fear created in the government, and our undercount could be in the millions,” said Daniel Zingale, a senior strategist for Gov. Gavin Newsom. “The stakes are arguably higher for California than any other state.” |
| [Read about why the Trump administration is running out of time to print the census.] | [Read about why the Trump administration is running out of time to print the census.] |
| Maricela Rodriguez, who works in the California governor’s office on civic engagement issues, said the state was already feeling the effects. “Really, the damage in terms of creating fear around the census has been done,” she said. “Whether the citizenship question is included or not included, there is already a lot of fear instilled in the immigrant community.” | Maricela Rodriguez, who works in the California governor’s office on civic engagement issues, said the state was already feeling the effects. “Really, the damage in terms of creating fear around the census has been done,” she said. “Whether the citizenship question is included or not included, there is already a lot of fear instilled in the immigrant community.” |
| The Newsom administration announced this week that it intended to spend up to $187 million to bolster census outreach efforts within the state, several times as much as the state has spent before. “If you don’t participate in the census, Trump wins,” Mr. Newsom said on Thursday. | The Newsom administration announced this week that it intended to spend up to $187 million to bolster census outreach efforts within the state, several times as much as the state has spent before. “If you don’t participate in the census, Trump wins,” Mr. Newsom said on Thursday. |
| The nationwide census, which is conducted every 10 years, is more than just a snapshot of the population, said Diana Elliott, a senior researcher at the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research group based in Washington. The data gathered by the census helps determine federal funding for all types of programs, including education and transportation. | The nationwide census, which is conducted every 10 years, is more than just a snapshot of the population, said Diana Elliott, a senior researcher at the Urban Institute, a nonprofit research group based in Washington. The data gathered by the census helps determine federal funding for all types of programs, including education and transportation. |
| Residents like those in the MacArthur Park neighborhood, Ms. Elliott said, have historically been at high risk of being undercounted, because they rent rather than own their homes and because immigrant communities are often wary of the government. The citizenship question would have added an additional hurdle, and would have suppressed participation, especially among undocumented people, she said. And she noted that the fear of being on the government’s radar — even for the census — is already baked in. | Residents like those in the MacArthur Park neighborhood, Ms. Elliott said, have historically been at high risk of being undercounted, because they rent rather than own their homes and because immigrant communities are often wary of the government. The citizenship question would have added an additional hurdle, and would have suppressed participation, especially among undocumented people, she said. And she noted that the fear of being on the government’s radar — even for the census — is already baked in. |
| “So much depends on the count,” she said. “But trust in government is very important for the Census Bureau and its activities, and that trust has been eroding for decades — but especially in light of the current political climate.” | “So much depends on the count,” she said. “But trust in government is very important for the Census Bureau and its activities, and that trust has been eroding for decades — but especially in light of the current political climate.” |
| At a bakery in MacArthur Park on Thursday, Elma Raxjal, who came to Los Angeles from Guatemala 14 years ago, said that she would not feel comfortable disclosing any information to census workers. The risk is too great, she said, recalling a family member who was deported several years ago. | At a bakery in MacArthur Park on Thursday, Elma Raxjal, who came to Los Angeles from Guatemala 14 years ago, said that she would not feel comfortable disclosing any information to census workers. The risk is too great, she said, recalling a family member who was deported several years ago. |
| The family has worked hard to assimilate into American life, she said, and her children all have Anglo names: Frank, Ashley and Jesse. But they live in fear of drawing attention to themselves. “When I go to work, sometimes they ask me what will happen to them if I don’t come back,” Ms. Raxjal said. | The family has worked hard to assimilate into American life, she said, and her children all have Anglo names: Frank, Ashley and Jesse. But they live in fear of drawing attention to themselves. “When I go to work, sometimes they ask me what will happen to them if I don’t come back,” Ms. Raxjal said. |
| Lesbia Elea, who has lived in the United States for nearly 15 years, said that while her own documentation was in order, that was not the case for everyone in her family. Activists in the neighborhood have told her that immigration agents must present a warrant if they want to enter the family’s apartment, which everyone in the household has been instructed to remember. | Lesbia Elea, who has lived in the United States for nearly 15 years, said that while her own documentation was in order, that was not the case for everyone in her family. Activists in the neighborhood have told her that immigration agents must present a warrant if they want to enter the family’s apartment, which everyone in the household has been instructed to remember. |
| “That’s the rule, we know that rule,” she said. | “That’s the rule, we know that rule,” she said. |
| Ms. Elea, 28, said she planned to cooperate with the census count, but that some of her family and friends would not. | Ms. Elea, 28, said she planned to cooperate with the census count, but that some of her family and friends would not. |
| The federal government is responsible for conducting the census. The workers known as enumerators who go door to door to gather the data are hired directly by the federal government. But states can supplement those efforts with additional money and outreach — in California’s case, to reach the 15 million residents deemed at high risk of going uncounted. | The federal government is responsible for conducting the census. The workers known as enumerators who go door to door to gather the data are hired directly by the federal government. But states can supplement those efforts with additional money and outreach — in California’s case, to reach the 15 million residents deemed at high risk of going uncounted. |
| The state is partnering with some community organizations to encourage participation. Arturo Vargas, chief executive of the NALEO Educational Fund, which works with the state and is based in MacArthur Park, said it was a challenge. | The state is partnering with some community organizations to encourage participation. Arturo Vargas, chief executive of the NALEO Educational Fund, which works with the state and is based in MacArthur Park, said it was a challenge. |
| “This is the same government that wants to know everything about everyone in your house,” he said. | “This is the same government that wants to know everything about everyone in your house,” he said. |
| Ms. Elliott of the Urban Institute added that the federal government has allocated less money for door-knocking this time than it did for the previous census in 2010, and is putting more emphasis on self-reporting on the internet — a change which could yield a lower count, especially in lower-income areas where not everyone has regular internet access. “There are just some people who will never send out a form, and you have to be out engaging them and getting them to participate,” Ms. Elliott said. | Ms. Elliott of the Urban Institute added that the federal government has allocated less money for door-knocking this time than it did for the previous census in 2010, and is putting more emphasis on self-reporting on the internet — a change which could yield a lower count, especially in lower-income areas where not everyone has regular internet access. “There are just some people who will never send out a form, and you have to be out engaging them and getting them to participate,” Ms. Elliott said. |
| But she added that community organizers still have time to persuade perhaps-nervous residents to make sure they are counted. | But she added that community organizers still have time to persuade perhaps-nervous residents to make sure they are counted. |
| “There’s still potential for all of this to turn around,” she said. “But it really depends upon communities getting out the count and encouraging people to trust the census bureau, participate in the census. There’s still time for really important community engagement to happen.” | “There’s still potential for all of this to turn around,” she said. “But it really depends upon communities getting out the count and encouraging people to trust the census bureau, participate in the census. There’s still time for really important community engagement to happen.” |