Hispanic leaders split on census boycott

Published: April 16, 2009 at 8:44 PM

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."

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints




Additional News Stories
Texas evidence barred from Ariz. trial (57 min)
Alaska mulls new ethics rules post-Palin (58 min)
Md. report optimistic about wind power
Modified egg plant held off in India
NBA: Utah 109, LA Clippers 99
NBA: Oklahoma City 89, Portland 77
2 alleged drug gangsters, 5 cops arrested
fark
Illegal immigration dropped 7 percent last year on news that US sucks almost as much as Mexico these...
Thanks to union contracts, a Madison Wisconsin bus driver earned $159,258 last year. Step to the...
Woman charged with impersonation. Of Jabba The Hutt, apparently
Georgia man arrested with $1.6 billion in phony Treasury notes. Authorities became suspicious upon...
You know how you have to break in to a store because all of the doors are locked? The same rules...
Armed robbery suspect who continually threatened to kill employees described as 'nicely dressed'...