Thread: Immigration activists urging census boycott

Immigration activists urging census boycott
Hope effort spurs legislation

By Maria Sacchetti, Globe Staff | September 8, 2009

A small but vocal group of advocates is urging illegal immigrants and their supporters nationwide to boycott the 2010 Census to protest the government’s inaction on immigration legislation, a move that, if successful, could cost Massachusetts and other states millions of dollars.

The campaign is setting off alarms across the United States because census figures are crucial to determining how much federal funding cities and towns receive. A large-scale boycott, state officials and prominent pro-immigrant groups warn, could force Massachusetts to cut services from school lunch programs to highway construction, and heighten its chances of losing a seat in Congress.

But proponents say the boycott would pressure politicians to address problems illegal immigrants face every day - such as long separations from their families back home - and pursue a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s immigration system that would provide a path to citizenship for millions of immigrants.

“Legalize us before you count us,’’ Fausto da Rocha, a Brazilian immigrant leader in Boston said on a talk-radio show in Quincy last week, where callers from as far away as Brunswick, Maine, expressed support for the boycott. “Politics is about power and money, and by not giving your information, you’ll be taking away money and power from the politicians.’’

The proposed boycott - organized this spring by the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, a group based in Washington that represents 20,000 churches nationwide, including 300 in Massachusetts - is stirring deep divisions among immigrant communities. It faces stiff opposition from a string of advocacy groups, including the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, the Service Employees International Union, and the Brazilian Immigrant Center. To this point, the boycott effort has revolved mainly around word-of-mouth, talk radio, and blog entries by some members of participating churches.

Eliseo Medina, the SEIU’s national executive vice president, called the boycott “irresponsible,’’ and Chelsea’s city manager, Jay Ash, said it was “absolutely crazy.’’

While the boycott is a national effort, states with significant percentages of immigrants such as Massachusetts stand to lose more because of formulas that base federal funding on population. Last year, Massachusetts received $11.4 billion in federal funds, and people who shun the census could cost the state about $1,755 apiece, said Brian McNiff , spokesman for the Massachusetts secretary of state.

“It’s always disappointing to hear that any individual or organization would suggest to someone not to participate in the census when there’s so much at stake,’’ said Kathleen Ludgate, regional director for the census in Boston. “We hope that people will participate in the census so we’ll have our fair share in Boston and throughout the state.’’

Participation in the census is required by law every 10 years so the government can obtain an accurate count of every resident in the United States. But the fine for failure to register is only $100, and the Census Bureau has generally not pursued violators. Instead, the agency encourages participation by spending millions in advertising and on workers who speak different languages.

A boycott would put the state at risk politically, said Secretary of State William F. Galvin. Because of a population shift to the South and West, he said, Massachusetts is at risk of losing one of its 10 congressional districts.

“We’re on the edge of losing a seat in Congress,’’ he said. “How does it help to have fewer voices from here?’’

But proponents of a boycott say it is a chance to grab the attention of politicians who have failed to pass legislation addressing illegal immigrants, even as their numbers have swelled to 12 million nationwide and 190,000 in Massachusetts - or about 1 in 5 immigrants. Overall, 14 percent of the state’s population is foreign born; most are here legally.

“I understand that this could affect the states’ budgets,’’ said the Rev. Victor Jarvis of Ebenezer Christian Church in Lawrence, who supports the boycott and plans to discuss it on talk radio. “But you have to do something. Otherwise, in politics, they are always going to use the most vulnerable to benefit themselves.’’

The idea of a boycott appears to have a sympathetic ear among many immigrants and their backers who called into the Quincy radio show last week.

In the studio, crammed into a basement of the Assembly of God Brazilian church, da Rocha and co-hosts Jose Bravo and pastor Emidio da Silva said they are pained by the stories they hear every day. They visit immigrants in jails, listen to their stories of loved ones they have not seen for years, and take complaints from workers who toiled hours in backbreaking jobs, but were never paid.

President Obama has pledged to pursue an overhaul of the immigration system during his first year in office.

Da Rocha reached out to immigrants who sweep floors or paint houses.

“They count us, and you can’t vote,’’ he said in Portuguese. “You’re losing your right to insurance. It’s money for health, education, for the city and safety. But your safety? That’s somebody else’s problem.’’

The calls came in right away.

“I support the boycott,’’ said Max from Everett. “Immigrants have contributed so much to this country.’’

Another caller, a man from Everett, said he would refuse to answer any questions from census takers. “The boycott is the best way to pressure the government,’’ said the man, who did not give his name but who said he was a US citizen.

At the end of the program, 38 callers were in favor and four against, in keeping with past shows.

However, the Brazilian Ministers Network and even the Brazilian Immigrant Center, where da Rocha serves as executive director, oppose the boycott.

Eduardo Siqueira, president of the center’s board, criticized da Rocha and others for tactics that he said scare immigrants into boycotting the census, in part by suggesting that the data could be used to detain them. Census officials say they do not share information with immigration officials, but da Rocha said he believes the data could be used to pinpoint where immigrants live.

Siqueira believes a boycott would do more harm than good.

“It may create more antagonism against immigrants,’’ Siqueira said. “This is not a campaign that makes sense.’’

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It's stupid for illegals to boycott the census, it will mean less money and representation for the places that they live,etc. If the places they live get less money and representation the illegals benefits and services will be greatly reduced.

Illegals shouldn't be counted anyway. They have no right to be in our country and should be deported when identified.