Based on the current data collection methods of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Census Bureau, there is a significant disconnect between how this data is collected and the actual experiences of Latinos in the country.

A report by the Latino Institute for Public Policy highlights that the categories used to identify race and ethnicity on official forms do not adequately reflect the identity of many people within this community.

Although in March OMB implemented changes to federal surveys by including the race option as “Latino/Hispanic,” this adjustment still appears insufficient to accurately represent the diversity of the Latino and Afro-Latino community.

“OMB's current data collection methods do not accurately capture the realities of racial discrimination faced by Latinos,” said Cecilia Nuñez, co-author of the report, in an interview with the LA Times.

The absence of accurate data has a direct impact on policymaking and the allocation of resources earmarked for these communities.

“Having accurate and usable data is essential to developing effective policies and interventions that address systemic inequities affecting Latinos and promote meaningful change,” Nuñez added during her interview.

According to Census Bureau data, there were an estimated 63.7 million Hispanics in the United States in 2022, representing 19% of the total U.S. population.