SAIPAN — CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds said her office looked into a request to include “Refaluwasch” as its own race classification on the 2030 U.S. Census, but found the federal process for changing race and ethnicity categories is complex, slow-moving, and heavily driven by national standards, research, and testing.
King-Hinds said the issue was raised with her during the last campaign season by members of the Refaluwasch community, and she revisited it recently after Melvin Faisao wrote to her office about the matter.
She said her office conducted research and worked directly with the U.S. Census Bureau to understand what it takes to modify race and ethnicity categories used on the decennial census.
King-Hinds said that in the 2010 Census for the CNMI, residents were asked to write in their ethnic origin or race, while the 2020 Census included more preset checkboxes for certain groups along with write-in spaces for more detailed identities, aimed at making responding easier while still capturing specific community data.
She said the Census Bureau indicated it is not possible to list every racial or ethnic group on the form, and that many communities across the country are advocating for recognition in census data.
King-Hinds said the path forward for the Refaluwasch community is participation and self-identification. She urged Refaluwasch community members to identify themselves accurately during the 2030 Census, including writing in “Refaluwasch” if the form provides a line for it.
She said those responses are coded and become part of the data that informs how communities are reflected in census reporting and future considerations over time.
King-Hinds said she understands the outcome may not be what some were hoping for immediately, but said that does not mean the work stops. She thanked Faisao and members of the Refaluwasch community for speaking up about cultural visibility, and said recognition should not divide communities but deepen mutual respect.
