Hispanic Caucus Seeks to Counter Illegal Immigrants' Resistance to 2010 Census

By Kathryn A. Wolfe, CQ Staff Kathryn A. Wolfe, Cq Staff –
Apr 17, 2009

Hoping to tamp down dissent among Hispanics, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has rebuked calls from a Latino religious group for illegal immigrants to boycott the 2010 census.

The National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, a group whose Web site says it represents 16,000 evangelical churches in 34 states, urged undocumented immigrants not to participate in the 2010 census absent immigration reform.

The group's president, the Rev. Miguel Rivera, said politicians use census data to polarize public opinion and rally support for crackdowns on illegal immigrants.

Many illegal immigrants are already wary of participating in the head count, fearful that information about them will wind up in the hands of federal agencies bent on deporting them. Census officials have been going to considerable lengths to assure immigrants that census data will be kept confidential.

Rivera and his group back President Obama's immigration plan, which would target employers who hire illegal workers, strengthen border enforcement and provide a way for illegal immigrants to become legal.

Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-N.Y., president of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), said it is vital that the population count be fair and thorough. "To not be counted would have political implications and jeopardize vital resources, including federal funding for schools, health care, job training and infrastructure," she said.

Charlie Gonzalez, D-Texas, vice chairman of the Hispanic Caucus, said the Latino group's efforts are well-intentioned, but misguided. He called on the Hispanic community to "stand together and be counted."

"We must not let this important opportunity for representation pass us by," Gonzalez said.

The constitutionally mandated census is intended to count everyone living in the United States, whether legally or not.

The data produced by the census is used in congressional reapportionment and redistricting, and in helping the federal government distribute hundreds of billions of dollars annually to local, state and tribal governments.

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