New York City has launched a video in Punjabi language to reach “Sikhs, who are predominantly Punjabi language speakers”. Vishavjit Singh, a Sikh-community advocate and artist who wore a Sikh Captain America uniform, is featured in the video which the city broadcast as public service announcements on local Punjabi TV channels, the city said.

Appealing to illegal immigrants, City Census Director Julie Menin said: “We thank Vishvajit Singh for making sure his community knows that there is no immigration or citizenship question on the census and that all responses are completely confidential and cannot be used by anyone, including law enforcement, your landlord, or ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement agency).” City Census Deputy Director Amit Singh Bagga recalled that his father had suffered “painful discrimination” after 9/11 and said: “There can be no more important exercise for all of us Sikhs to participate in than that which truly allows us to be seen, heard, and respected - and that is the census.”

“If we are not counted, we will be invisible when it comes to the dollars and cents that come right into our communities for schools, hospitals, roads, and more, not to mention that we will be deprived of representation that truly reflects the needs and priorities of our communities,” he asserted without explaining how funds can be allocated on the basis of religion or “ethno-religious” identity as the budgets do not channel money explicitly for such groups or how legislative constituencies can be gerrymandered for Sikhs.