At least six regularly conducted population surveys, including one done jointly by New York and the U.S. Census Bureau, have asked immigration and citizenship questions, according to a “guide” that throws cold water on complaints about it being asked on the upcoming 2020 Census.
What’s more, three federal agencies, the Census, Customs and Immigration Services and the State Department produce immigration and citizenship data.
The internal “Guide to International Migration Statistics: The Sources, Collection, and Processing of Foreign-born Population Data and the U.S. Census Bureau,” detailed how each different survey in recent years addressed immigration, including the questions that were asked.
The guide was drawn up in 2002 “to inform interested parties of on-going research and to encourage discussion.” It was provided to Secrets.
It directly challenges charges from liberal lawmakers that the Trump administration is making a major change to the upcoming Census by adding a citizenship question. Some news stories have wrongly said that the question hasn’t been part of the Census since 1950.
“It’s absolutely not new and 100 percent Constitutional as well,” said an administration official, noting that a citizenship question was included on the 2002 Census. The Census is conducted every 10 years to aid in the redrawing of congressional districts and distribution of federal dollars and programs.
Critics have charged that the administration’s push to slow illegal immigration prompted the citizenship question and that it is trying to find illegals to deport. Several states, including two that host sanctuary cities — New York and California — have sued to stop the Census Bureau from asking about citizenship.
Administration officials have described the addition as one sought by the Commerce and Justice Departments to make the Census more accurate and legal. What’s more, facing questions that immigrants — legal and illegal — will hide from the Census, other reports have shown that a tiny percentage actually refuses to answer Census questionnaires.
The surveys that have include immigration questions are:
- American Community Survey.
- Current Population Survey.
- Survey of Income and Program Participation.
- National Health Interview Survey.
- American Housing Survey.
- New York City Housing Vacancy Survey.
At least three of those surveys still ask citizenship questions, according to a new report from the Center for Immigration Studies. They are the American Community Survey, the Current Population Survey, and the Survey of Income and Program Participation.
The 2002 guide included examples of the questions in each of the surveys.
- The American Community Survey: “Is this person a CITIZEN of the United States?”
- The Current Population Survey: “(Are/Is) (name/you) a CITIZEN of the United States?”
- The Survey of Income and Program Participation: “Are you a U.S. citizen?”
- The National Health Interview Survey: “ARE/IS] a CITIZEN of the United States?” and, “In what year did [fill NAME] come to the United States to stay?”
- The American Housing Survey: “(Are/Is) (name/you) a CITIZEN of the United States?”
- The New York City Housing Vacancy Survey: Under “Immigrant Status,” interviewers asked, “Did…(reference person) move to the United States as an immigrant?” and “In what year did…(reference person) move to the United States?”
