Hispanic leaders split on census boycott

WASHINGTON, April 16 (UPI) -- Some Hispanic advocacy groups are calling for illegal immigrants to boycott the 2010 U.S. Census unless national immigration laws are changed.

The National Coalition of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders is urging undocumented immigrants not to fill out Census forms unless Congress passes "genuine" immigration reforms, USA Today reported Thursday.

The group says asking undocumented immigrants to be counted without giving them a chance to become legal residents is disingenuous and runs counter to church teachings, said the Rev. Miguel Rivera, president of the Latino religious coalition.

Besides, he said, census counts are often used to support crackdowns on illegal immigration.

Census officials said they are disappointed by the proposed boycott.

"Our job is to count every single person," Raul Cisneros, Census spokesman, said. "We are disappointed that any organization would urge anyone to not participate in the 2010 Census."

Critics say failure to count immigrants could hurt some states, since congressional seats are determined by census figures.

Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials and a member of a Census advisory panel, said the proposed boycott "may be well-intended but misguided and ultimately irresponsible."

He added that there is a "sense of desperation and frustration among some immigrant rights leaders."