WASHINGTON –  Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, Senator Debbie Stabenow and Senator Gary Peters sent a letter to U.S. Census Bureau Director John Thompson this week in support of a proposal to test a Middle East and North Africa (MENA) category for inclusion in the 2020 Census. 

According to the Arab American Institute, Michigan is home to the second highest concentration of Arab Americans in the country, but the Census currently provides no option for people who are from the MENA region to identify themselves. This proposal would provide a more accurate picture of the demographic composition of the United States and ensure government resources are allocated appropriately.

“Excluding the MENA category has serious ramifications for members of these communities, many of whom live in the State of Michigan,” the legislators wrote. “We all want to improve the accuracy of the Census, and it is our belief that including a broad MENA category would help us achieve this shared goal.”

While the Census Bureau estimates the number of Arab Americans in the United States at 1.8 million, the Arab American Institute estimates that the population is closer to 3.7 million. In Michigan, the Census estimates the population is at 191,600, while the Arab American Institute estimates that more than 500,000 Arab Americans call the state home.

“This misrepresentation in population size has led to barriers for representation, employment, health and education,” read a statement by the three Democrats. “For example, since the MENA community is not included in the Census, they are not eligible for protection under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which ensures the availability of foreign language ballots.” 

The statement added that the inclusion of a MENA category to the Census will help address these disadvantages and ensure the proper allocation of government resources.

“We all want to improve the accuracy of the Census, and it is our belief that including a broad MENA category would help us achieve this shared goal,” the letter to Thompson reads. “We encourage you to move forward with this proposal as quickly as possible.  Thank you for your consideration of this request.”

Arab Americans are currently counted as White by the Census. The bureau’s definition of White is “people having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East or North Africa.”

The Census Bureau is currently testing the viability of the MENA category. The new format of the 2020 Census needs to be passed by Congress, where advocates of the MENA category believe the new classification might turn into a political issue.