Countdown to Census Day
April 1, 2030 · Jour du recensement
Census 2030 · Recensement 2030
Count every one of us.
If we are not counted, we are not seen.
Every ten years, the census decides how many seats Michigan gets in Congress and how funding for schools, clinics, roads, and housing reaches our neighborhoods. A complete count of African, Caribbean, and diaspora families is how our community gets the representation and resources it has earned.
What’s Happening / Ce qui se passe
Two proposed changes could erase our community.
On September 10, 2026, the U.S. Census Bureau proposed changes to how the 2030 Census counts people. They are not final, and they are expected to be challenged in court.
Where things stand
- Sept 10, 2026
Rule proposed by the Census Bureau.
- Nov 2, 2026
Public comments closed. GABA submitted comments on behalf of our community.
- April 1, 2027
Census topics go to Congress. Our next chance to push back.
- April 1, 2028
Final questions go to Congress.
- April 1, 2030
Census Day. Every household counts.
GABA is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3). This page shares public information about the census so every family can participate.
Many neighbors left out of the count for Congress
Only U.S. citizens and green-card holders would count toward Michigan’s seats in Congress. Refugees, asylum seekers, people with Temporary Protected Status, international students, and workers on visas could be left out, even though they live, work, and pay taxes here.
Seuls les citoyens américains et les titulaires d’une carte verte compteraient pour les sièges du Michigan au Congrès. Les réfugiés, les demandeurs d’asile, les bénéficiaires du TPS, les étudiants et les travailleurs avec visa pourraient être exclus.
No more questions on race or ethnicity
The census would stop asking about race and ethnicity. That would erase the new Middle Eastern or North African category, and the chance for Nigerians, Ethiopians, Somalis, Ghanaians, and others to report where they come from. Without that data, our needs become invisible.
Le recensement ne poserait plus de questions sur la race ou l’origine ethnique. Sans ces données, nos communautés et leurs besoins deviennent invisibles.
Why It Matters
The census is our power on paper.
Black immigrants, refugees, and the wider diaspora are among the fastest-growing communities in America, and among the least studied in Michigan. The census is the foundation of almost every number used to make decisions about us.
When our families are undercounted, Michigan loses representation, our neighborhoods lose funding, and our community disappears from the data that shapes policy for the next ten years.
Take Action
Four ways to make sure we’re counted.
Pledge to Be Counted
Promise to complete the 2030 Census for everyone in your household. We’ll send reminders, updates on the proposed changes, and help in your language.
Take the Pledge → GABAGivesBecome a Census Ambassador
Get trained to answer questions in your church, mosque, association, or workplace. Join phone banks and community events that build trust in the count.
Volunteer With Us → Host a SiteHost a Census Assistance Site
Open your space, whether a place of worship, market, salon, or community center, so families can complete the census with trusted, multilingual help.
Host a Site → Partner or FundJoin the Coalition
Bring your organization into our census work. Sign coalition letters, co-host outreach, and fund the research that keeps our community visible.
Partner With Us →Know Your Rights / Vos droits
Questions families ask us most.
Is my census information shared with immigration or the police?Mes informations sont-elles partagées avec l’immigration ou la police ?
Federal law (Title 13 of the U.S. Code) requires the Census Bureau to keep your answers confidential. Your individual responses cannot be shared with immigration enforcement, police, courts, landlords, or any other agency, and they are used only to produce statistics.
La loi fédérale oblige le Bureau du recensement à garder vos réponses confidentielles. Elles ne peuvent pas être partagées avec les services d’immigration, la police, les tribunaux ou les propriétaires.
Who should I count in my household?Qui dois-je compter dans mon foyer ?
Under current census rules, count everyone who usually lives and sleeps in your home, including babies, relatives, roommates, and anyone staying with you who has no other permanent place to live.
Selon les règles actuelles, comptez toutes les personnes qui vivent et dorment habituellement chez vous, y compris les bébés, les proches et les colocataires.
Are the proposed changes final?Les changements proposés sont-ils définitifs ?
No. The Census Bureau must review public comments before issuing a final rule, and legal challenges are expected. GABA is tracking every step and will update this page as things change.
Non. Le Bureau doit examiner les commentaires du public avant d’adopter une règle définitive, et des recours en justice sont attendus.
I’m on a visa, TPS, or waiting on asylum. Should I still participate?J’ai un visa, le TPS ou une demande d’asile en cours. Dois-je participer ?
Today, the census counts everyone living in the United States. If you have questions about your own situation, book a free GABA Access appointment or contact the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center at (734) 239-6863.
Aujourd’hui, le recensement compte toutes les personnes vivant aux États-Unis. Pour des questions sur votre situation, prenez rendez-vous avec GABA Access.
What if I need help in my language?Et si j’ai besoin d’aide dans ma langue ?
GABA Census Ambassadors and assistance sites will offer help in the languages our community speaks. Tell us your language when you take the pledge so we can reach you.
Nos ambassadeurs offriront de l’aide dans les langues de notre communauté. Indiquez votre langue lors de votre engagement.
Help planned in
The Legacy Agenda
Data policy we’re tracking.
Keeping our community in the numbers
Whatever happens to the federal census, Michigan can still collect better data on its residents. We track the bills and rules that decide whether African, Caribbean, and diaspora families are visible in public data.
- 2030 Census residence & demographic ruleProposed Sept 10, 2026 (Docket USBC-2026-0628). Comments closed Nov 2, 2026.
- Michigan House Bill 6113Would add subcategories within Black, African, and Caribbean categories in state and local data collection.
- Census topics report to CongressDue April 1, 2027. We will mobilize letters to Michigan’s congressional delegation.
Build With Us
Count us. Fund the count.
A complete count starts years before Census Day. Join the coalition, volunteer with GABAGives, or invest in the research that keeps our community visible.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau proposed rule, 91 FR 57524 (Sept. 10, 2026) and comment-period extension, FR Doc. 2026-20328; 13 U.S.C. §§ 9, 141; Michigan Legislature, HB 6113 (2026).