Original Article

The Biden administration has submitted a preliminary proposal to improve the representation of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) and Latino populations in the census. This proposal recognizes the MENA population as a distinct ethnic identity for the first time and allows for Latinos to identify as such without having to also select a separate racial category like Black or White. This change could have implications on how race and ethnicity are recorded nationally, and could inform decisions related to redistricting and government assistance distribution. The public is invited to provide written comments on the proposal until April 12, with the administration aiming to finalize the changes by summer 2024. The Arab American Institute, which has been advocating for MENA recognition for over four decades, feels that the changes could have a significant impact on the community. According to a professor of Latin American and Latino studies, the number of Latinos who marked “some other race” increased between 2010 and 2020, and the current census format limits the ability to discuss racial discrimination faced by Latinos.