Do Salvadorans Outnumber Dominicans In U.S.?

"Dominican Family" image via *Slim Rocket*'s Flickr

The Salvadoran news is significant, considering that in both the 1990 and 2000 censuses, Hispanics could only choose to identify themselves as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or other Hispanic. Respondents checking off this latter category could write in a specific subgroup such as “Salvadoran.”

If Salvadorans hadn't bothered to take this additional step, their population wouldn't have been effectively represented. This raises an interesting question: if more Dominicans participate in the 2010 census than they did in the 2000 census, what will change?

We will have to wait for the results of the 2010 Census to get the most accurate Latino subgroup findings. The Migration Policy Institute reported in 2004 that the Dominican population is projected to be 1.6 million in 2010.

Census data determines how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments. These decisions directly impact the quality of life for all Latinos and their families.

Tr3s Comunidad, have you mailed in your 2010 Census form? Represent in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Census, Latino, National Institute for Latino Policy, Salvadorans, studies