The Martha’s Vineyard Commission (MVC) decided to lend its voice to the growing opposition against proposed changes to the U.S. Census that would exclude undocumented residents.
“It’s a couple of years away, but it is important to make sure that after 250 years, we don’t change the rules because one person is in office and decided to do it,” Adam Turner, MVC executive director, said at a Thursday commission meeting.
The U.S. Census Bureau began accepting comments last month for proposed procedural changes ahead of the 2030 population data collection. Among these, the one that the MVC views as most detrimental is a proposed change to those who are counted to only citizens and holders of permanent resident cards, more commonly called green cards.
The bureau’s proposed changes would alter the record of the demographic portrait of the country and have raised a slew of questions. A states’ population count impacts how many legislators are in the U.S. House of Representatives and where federal funds are distributed. In Massachusetts, local lawmakers have criticized the proposals as measures that would cost the state billions of dollars.
The proposals have been met by widespread backlash. The plans also introduce a question that asks respondents their citizenship status, which President Donald Trump unsuccessfully attempted to implement during his first term, as well as exclude collection of various demographic data, including race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Concerns have been raised on the implications for research, especially regarding health disparities across racial groups, and the potential of undercounting residents.
“Accurate data is essential for towns, cities, states, and the country as a whole to address problems and improve the quality of life,” Turner wrote in his letter to the U.S. Census Bureau. “We strongly urge the Census Bureau to continue counting every resident regardless of immigration status, maintain the critical collection of race and other demographic data, and allow the enumeration period to encompass where people spend most of their time.”
A representative of the bureau was not immediately available for comment.
Just over 13 percent of Dukes County’s population is foreign born, and over 600 J-1 visa holders live on the Vineyard annually. Under the proposed methodology, there is the possibility they wouldn’t be counted unless they have green cards. And while many of these visa holders are seasonal staff for local businesses, some have decided to make a home on the Island.
Turner wrote in his letter that the changes that propose the exclusion of immigrants without green cards “due to their lack of a sufficient tie and allegiance to the United States” should be removed.
“Many non-citizens in the US are devoted members of their communities, pay taxes, provide essential services, etc.,” Turner wrote. “They spend the majority of their time working, raising families, and otherwise residing in a state. By longstanding convention, this should qualify them for inclusion in the Census.”
At the meeting, Turner described what he called an “attempt to sanitize the Census” as “outrageous,” and he said the MVC isn’t alone in its opposition. The commission plans to sign a letter by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Planning Agencies in opposition to the proposed census changes, as have many people who submitted comments in Regulations.gov. The comment period is open until Nov. 2. Turner said the MVC’s letter will also be available to view on the commission’s website.
Ben Robinson, Tisbury commissioner, noted the importance of immigration as an issue in the country and questioned the bureau’s proposed changes.
“Why would you want to not have that data to inform policy?” he said.
