POLISCOPE
Back to feed
NewsKPBS Public MediaAugust 25, 2026San Diego

Advocates urge El Cajon City Council to support MENA demographic data collection

Advocates are calling on the El Cajon City Council to pass a resolution supporting the implementation of Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) demographic categories in government data collection. This push follows the passage of California Assembly Bill 91, which requires state and local agencies to offer these categories to improve the accuracy of population data.

censusdemographicsdata equitylocal governmentMENAcivil rights
Read the full story at KPBS Public Media

Why It Matters

Accurate demographic data is used to determine the allocation of public resources for health, education, and economic services; currently, many Middle Eastern and North African residents are categorized as white in official census data.

Key Facts

  • The Biden administration ordered the addition of a 'Middle Eastern or North African' (MENA) option to the U.S. Census form in 2024.
  • California Assembly Bill 91 (2025) requires state and local agencies to offer specific categories for major MENA groups.
  • Advocates report that the Trump administration has not yet included the MENA category in the upcoming American Community Survey.
  • The 2030 Census planning process is currently underway, with advocates warning that inaccurate data collection will impact government service efficiency for a decade.
  • El Cajon Deputy Mayor Michelle Metschel has expressed support for a local resolution but requires a second councilmember to place it on the agenda.
  • San Diego County, Anaheim, Bell, and San Francisco have already taken steps to support or implement MENA data categories.
  • Data collected via these categories is used for public health research, education, and economic support planning.

Who's Mentioned

personSammy Mansour“Leader of the federal policy team for the National Network for Arab American Com”personRyan Fan“Advocacy & campaign manager at Majdal: Arab Community Center of San Diego”personMichelle Metschel“Deputy Mayor of El Cajon”locationEl Cajon“City where advocacy is taking place”organizationSan Diego County Board of Supervisors“Adopted MENA categories in 2024”