N.Y. Gov. Kathy Hochul signs law recognizing Middle Eastern and North African ancestry when collecting demographic data

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.—Recently, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation mandating that the state of New York establish distinct demographic collection categories for North African, Middle Eastern, and White populations.

The law mandates that distinct collecting categories be used for the White population in New York State by all state boards, departments, commissions, and agencies that gather demographic information on citizens’ ancestry or ethnic origin.

Supporters claim that by enhancing the way state agencies gather demographic data, New York will have more knowledge about the difficulties these groups have as well as more knowledge about suitable legislative solutions.

According to Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, the law is a major step forward in the state’s continuous struggle for representation and equity.

MENA and Arab-descent populations have been marginalized in our government institutions for decades, with their distinct identities, difficulties, and contributions sometimes going unacknowledged, according to Awawdeh. New York confirms that by involving MENA groups in these important discussions, their opinions may influence laws that directly affect their lives and help create a more just future for all New Yorkers.

These varied groups have been categorized for far too long, hiding their distinct needs, experiences, and contributions, said Brooklyn-based New York State Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon. In order to create policies that represent the genuine variety of our state, advance equity, and enable us to better serve our citizens, accurate data collecting is crucial, according to Simon.

New Yorkers of Middle Eastern and North African heritage will no longer be marginalized by being categorized as “white” or “other” in one of the country’s most diverse cities, stated Salma Mohamed, Advocacy and Engagement Lead at the Arab American Family Support Center. According to Mohamed, this lack of acknowledgment has hindered cultural representation and, more worrisomely, concealed the true needs and difficulties of our communities, such as community funding and access to quality healthcare.

The following Middle Eastern and North African groups are included in the collection categories and tabulations:

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  Major North African (NA) groups: Egyptian, Moroccan, Sudanese, Algerian, Tunisian and Libyan
  
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  Major Middle Eastern (ME) groups: Yemeni, Iranian, Palestinian, Iraqi, Lebanese, Israeli, Jordanian, Syrian, Armenian and Saudi
  
• 
  Other Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) groups
  

According to Rana Abdelhamid, executive director and founder of Malikah, an organization that combats violence against women, “this is a long-awaited and much-needed step toward ensuring that MENA New Yorkers are counted, seen, and supported.” Although we are aware that this is only the beginning, this endeavor has important implications for equity and civil rights.

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