For undocumented Latino communities, the digital census is a unique opportunity to build political power.

Starting March 12, families and individuals across the country are being invited to go online to my2020census.gov to participate in the country’s inaugural "digital-first" decennial census. For Latino communities, and especially households with mixed-legal-status families, the once-a- decade national count represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of our communities. For Latino families, an accurate reflection of our population in the U.S. helps build our political power in a country that has long denied many of us the protections of citizenship and limited forms of civic participation—despite our ongoing investment through our payment of local, state, and federal sales taxes. 

Information gathered as a part of the census process determines federal funding levels for local communities and impacts how taxpayer dollars are distributed. These funding decisions affect the daily lives of every American through small business development programs, highway construction, Federal Pell Grants, the Head Start Program, school breakfast programs, unemployment insurance, Violence Against Women Formula Grants, as well as federal aid for natural disasters, and secure funding for hospitals and fire departments. 

Data from the census also underpins the foundation of our democracy by deciding how congressional districts are drawn, how many seats each state holds in the Electoral College, state legislative districts, school districts, and voting precincts. Ultimately, the U.S. Census aims to ensure that all people, regardless of citizenship status, are fairly and accurately represented by their government—including the enforcement of voting rights and civil rights legislation. 

As the economic engine of the American economy, the Latino community has the potential to catalyze political power with our participation in the census. Accurate representation will help ensure vital safety-net programs are available to our communities. And, despite the Trump administration's efforts to disenfranchise black and brown communities by threatening to include a citizenship question in this year’s survey, Latino nonprofit organizations nationwide are collaborating with some of the country’s largest technology companies to combat misinformation to ensure that no one is left behind. 

HTTP member organizations composed of national Latino civil rights organizations, are dedicated to making sure the Latino community has access to accurate information about this year’s census. We are working to connect families to low-cost options for subscribing to affordable at- home broadband, and building the digital skills necessary to be safe online. As Latino communities nationwide begin to receive paper invitations to take the digital census in the mail, we invite community leaders to share the resources included in this blog to ease the possibility of potential threats to participation.  

Three things Latino communities need to know about the 2020 digital census:

The Census Bureau will never ask you for:

  • Your citizenship status

  • Your Social Security number.

  • Money or donations.

  • Anything on behalf of a political party.

  • Your bank or credit card account numbers.

If someone claiming to be from the Census Bureau contacts you via email or phone and asks you for one of these things, it's a scam, and you should not cooperate. For more information, visit Avoiding Fraud and Scams.

There are only four ways to take the census:

  • Online at 2020census.gov

  • By Phone: English: 844-330-2020, Spanish: 844-468-2020

  • By Mail: Most households received their invitation to respond to the 2020 Census between March 12 – 20. These official Census Bureau mailings will include detailed information and a Census ID for completing the census online. If you do not take the census online, households will begin to receive a paper form between April 8 – 16, 2020.

  • In person: If you have not completed the census online or by phone by April 20th, census “Enumerators” will begin to visit households to help people complete the census form in person. Census Enumerators are required to carry a special ID and badge, Census logo-branded briefcases, and official laptops or cell phones with the 2020 Census logo on them. Workers should introduce themselves as Census bureau employees, and you can also ask to see a second form of identification. If you’re still unsure about their identity or suspect fraud, you can call 800-923-8282 to speak with a local Census Bureau representative.

  • YOU will NEVER receive an email or link within an email asking you to complete the census. If you receive an email claiming to be an invitation to complete the census delete immediately, and DO NOT click on any of the links or buttons included this is most likely a phishing scam meant to fraudulently collect your personal information. 

Online and phone responses can be completed in 13 languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Tagalog, Polish, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Japanese). 

2020 Census Responses Are Confidential

  • Census Bureau employees take a lifetime oath to protect the personal information of every respondent.

  • Any Census Bureau employee that violates this law is subject to a penalty of up to $250,000 and/or up to 5 years in prison.

The Hispanic Technology and Telecommunications Partnership (HTTP) is the leading national Latino voice on telecommunications and technology policy.  We are a nonpartisan coalition of national Latino organizations working to ensure that the full array of technological and telecommunications advancements are available to all Latinos in the United States.  HTTP coalition members are nonprofit organizations that support the social, political, and economic advancement of over 50 million Americans of Hispanic/Latino descent by facilitating access to high quality education, economic opportunity and effective health care through the use of technology tools and resources.

Alejandro Roark