Latino groups battle over census stance

LOS ANGELES, May 31 (UPI) -- A Hispanic clergy group and immigration activists are battling over how to approach the upcoming U.S. Census, observers say.

While the National Coalition of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders, which claims to represent 20,000 Hispanic churches, is calling for illegal immigrants to boycott the head count, other immigrant advocates are urging the opposite, saying the census is vital to gain more political power for Hispanics, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

The clergy group says 1 million of its church-going members are prepared to boycott the census unless illegal immigrants are given legal status. "Before being counted, we need to be legalized," the Rev. Miguel Rivera, the coalition's chairman and founder, told the newspaper.

But such a boycott would be "political suicide" for Hispanics, said Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials.

"This is a phenomenal step backward in the strides we have made to make sure we are equal."

The U.S. Census counts all people regardless of legal status. It is used to apportion the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as provide demographic information used to formulate national policy.