Source: www.indoamerican-news.com
HOUSTON, TEXAS, February 26, 2010: Full page advertisements for United States Census 2010 are currently appearing in many Indian newspapers in the US. It mentions the importance of being counted and assures that the US law “protects confidentiality” of the respondents. It also assures that the Immigration Department, IRS, FBI, CIA or the local police will not have access to any of the information in the Census document.
The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Whether you are a citizen, legal or illegal immigrant, on tourist visa or H1-B visa, or even have no visa, the law encourages everyone on US soil to respond to the Census 2010 questionnaire. The Indian community in the US can “help improve schools, increase job training and get its share of over $400 billion per year in federal funds” provided every Indian household ‘answers 10 simple questions and mails the Census questionnaire back to the Census Bureau.” A large majority of people will get the short form with ten questions while some, randomly selected, will be surveyed in depth. However, the usefulness of the information will directly relate to the accuracy with which you respond to each of the questions.
Thirty years ago, the U.S. Census Bureau counted 361,544 Indian Americans living in the United States. This number was one-sixth of one percent of 226.5 million US population in 1980. The Indian community predominantly comprised of those who migrated from India and adopted the USA as their new homeland. Ten years later, as per the 1990 Census, the number of Indian Americans rose to 815,447, more than double the previous count. By then, the community also included a large number of those who were born and raised in the United States of America. In 2000, the Census count of Indian Americans – immigrants, citizens, visitors from India, H-1B visa holders, officials of Indian Embassy and Consulates, Indian employees of other non-governmental Indian agencies, such as banks, etc. – was 1.67 million, slightly more than double the 1990 Census count.
[HPI note: Hinduism Today estimates that about 2.4 million Hindus exist in the U.S. Today, significantly more than the current official estimate.]