Some Latinos, angry at Obama and Congress, threatening to boycott census

The Senate this week confirmed Robert Groves, a former census official and sociology professor at the University of Michigan, to run the Census Bureau. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke pronounced him ''a respected social scientist who will run the Census Bureau with integrity and independence.''

The appointment will hardly still controversy over the 2010 census.

To guarantee the most accurate count of the 300 million or so Americans, federal officials promise confidentiality. But now a group of Latino clergymen is charging that widely published census data is being used to crack down on illegal immigrants. And they're calling on people in the country illegally not to answer the census.

"Law enforcement has been very effective in areas where the data of census 2000 has been used," said Rev. Miguel Rivera, head of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, a Washington-D.C.-based group of 20,000 churches, many of them storefronts serving undocumented workers.

Required by the U.S. Constitution, the census is used to apportion seats in Congress. With residents leaving amid a fiscal meltdown, California could lose a congressional seat. With new residents moving in, Utah or North Carolina could gain. And, beyond the politics of the thing, the census is also used to apportion more than $300 billion in federal dollars to states and cities. So, high stakes all around.

Disappointed that President Obama has not pushed harder for immigration reform to help the estimated 12 million undocumented Latinos in the country, Rivera told NPR that he hopes a boycott will put pressure on Congress to do just that. "If they don't want [a loss of]  funding for their constituents, maybe losing seats at the congressional level, then what they have to do is roll their sleeves and move forward with comprehensive immigration reform," he said.

Los Angeles activist Nativo Lopez is trying to convince the group he heads, the Mexican American Political Assn., to endorse the boycott. Latinos -- who helped elect Obama -- feel betrayed, he said, believing that despite great campaign rhetoric, the Obama White House is just continuing the Bush crackdown on illegal immigration while ignoring the impact of the recession on undocumented workers.

"There is no incentive for me to cooperate with the federal government to conduct this count unless we get relief from the federal government on the types of issues that are devastating our families socially and economically," he said.

In North Carolina, where a Latino undercount could seriously damage the state's chances of getting another congressional seat, Roy Crisanto, pastor of El Tabernaculo De La Uncion, a Pentecostal church, is telling members to join the boycott.

“The government wants to count people,” Crisanto told the Charlotte Observer, “but not give them the benefits that come with being counted.”

Other Latino groups are gearing up to fight the boycott, fearing that it could undermine the very count that helps the community with needed funds.

Arturo Vargas, head of the National Assn. of Latino Elected Officials, called the boycott "irresponsible," reminding his colleagues that an undercount would affect funding and representation for a decade.

"The irony is that the enemies of immigration reform, this is what they want," Vargas told the Wall Street Journal. "They don't want these people counted."

Catholic bishops have also joined the be-counted campaign. "It is important to get the word out because some of the populations we serve tend to normally be undercounted," said San Antonio's Archbishop Jose Gomez, an official in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "The U.S. Census is a useful tool for learning about God's people, who and where they are, and many other facts that shed light on their lives, possibilities and struggles."

Census forms are to be mailed out in the spring. Between now and then, look for this debate to rev up.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo:  New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson speaks to Latino voters during a rally in Denver in October. Credit: Associated Press

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Comments

[Estoban]

There are no 'undocumented workers'! Lawbreaking illegal aliens use a plethora of documents such as SS#s, birth certificates, green cards, licenses and matriculata that are forged and/or stolen. They should not be counted because it effects the number of Representatives serving citizens in each state.

[Brittanicus]

Don't let down your guard on E-Verify?

It’s our phone calls that can derail any thoughts of another AMNESTY? Fill their eardrums with public rage not to undermine E-Verify. WE WANT A PERMANENT FOR EVERYONE WHO COLLECTS A PAY CHECK! Today! As never before they are reacting and listening to millions of patriotic Americans and pro-sovereignty groups, in which E-Verify have become a solid foundation to identify and remove foreign labor. Taxpayers money should be spent on infrastructure, our own weak and sick, our veterans who are homeless, our unemployed and those who real immigrants who respect our laws. Until the inception of the Internet, Americans and legal residents had no way of communicating between ourselves. Now we can? Now we should use every means possible to elaborate, that we are well and truly seething, because they are siding with the globalists, money people, open border subversives.

We are not bigots because we love our country and don't want to turn into a third world society. We do not want to live in an OVERPOPULATED, congested land. We have been paying for years--illegal immigrant’s support, instead of the procurers--the businesses that employ them. Our charged voices have set-off a chain reaction amongst the Washington political masses, because we actually turned the tables on the anti-sovereignty, pro-illegal immigration organizations. They are building the original border fence as planned? But we have enemies who have ignored their oath of office and plan to weaken any amendments. As with the 1986 immigration AMNESTY law that was never broken, but disrupted and never enforced. Now they want another AMNESTY or immigration reform package.

It was the politicians who caused the problem of between 13 to 20 million settling here and unable to support themselves. Lawmakers can now stew in their own juices, because we refuse--absolutely refuse, to be sold on another path to citizenship, as it will be yet another higher tax burden on taxpayers. California being just one of many Sanctuary States--that has produced massive budget deficit problems, cause by the huge influx of illegal poor living on state and federal welfare.

Senators and Representatives aides are unhappy with the constant bombardment from millions of Americans, but they are the bridge that must be crossed everyday? No respite, no retreat? Keep up the pressure, till their ears bleed? Keep up the invaluable rumblings in the beltway at 202-224-3121 THAT THE POPULATION IS MAD AND NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE! Learn who your enemy is and who your friends at NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIALWATCH, CAPSWEB, HERITAGE FOUNDATION & AMERICANPATROL

ATTENTION! Because of the massive payments to illegal immigrants in California, their is a petition. Google--TAXPAYER REVOLUTION. Very few newspapers will mention this activist petition. When is the American flag going to fly again in the once Golden state?

[Delaware Bob]

I can't say the ILLEGAL ALIENS are completely to blame for the shape of our economy, but they are a BIG part of the problem. The ILLEGAL ALIENS send BILLIONS upon BILLIONS out of this Country every year, money we will NEVER see again. Does this help our economy?

How about the BILLIONS the American taxpayers fork out for the ILLEGAL ALIEN BABIES, the schooling of them, the medical care and the list goes on, and on, and on.

How about the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS paid to jail ILLEGAL ALIENS for the crimes, then the cost to deport them. Does this help our economy?

Then you have these activist groups, the Catholic Church and the ACLU that want AMNESTY for these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It would be absolute suicide for this Country if AMNESTY were granted to the 20 million or so ILLEGAL ALIENS. We have more and more people out of work everyday and they want to add another 20 million to this Country? I say, "NO"!

If AMNESTY were ever granted to these 20 million ILLEGAL ALIENS, you can bet big money that 3 years from now, there would be ANOTHER 3-5 million ILLEGAL ALIENS demonstrating on our soil for AMNESTY.

An end MUST come to this illegal immigration. The perfect tool we have so far is E-Verify. It MUST be used by ALL businesses and Government Social Services. EVERY employee must be checked! If they are illegal, they are to be dismissed!

I believe it is time for all 50 States to pass a State law, like Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and a few others. It is time for these ILLEGAL ALIENS to go back to their home Country and get out of this Country. The problems they are causing will not go away until the ILLEGAL ALIENS are out of this Country. I think that is plain to see.

It's time for ZERO TOLERENCE with these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It's time for them to get back to their own country where they belong. If they truly want to be part of America, let them apply and wait their turn like the millions of others who want to come to America LEGALLY. They will then be welcomed with open arms.

THIS COUNTRY WILL NEVER GET BACK ON IT’S FEET AS LONG AS ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE IN THIS COUNTRY NO MATTER HOW MANY TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE SPEND!

[dharc]

Why does ACORN aka Obama want to know what time we go to work in the morning?Why are they hitting the GPS 40 ft from every door? These are not census questions.The illegal Mexicans are just part of the shell game being played on the American citizen... And are you insane? NO MORE BUSHES.....

[Scott]

This Miguel who leads COMLAMIC claims to be a Rev. and is a "Christian" organization. I have a problem with anyone who claims to be a Christian and supports and condones the breaking of not only the immigration laws but the many other violations that goes with illegal immigration. I'm sure he's personally aware of and harbors many in the country illegally.

[DelWebb]

Latinos are always angry yet won't leave the U.S.

Boycott the census who cares?

If you are illegally here GET OUT!

[John Smith]

Estoban is right; the LAT should have enough integrity to cease the use of the Treason Lobby's effusive term of "Undocumented Workers" and use the ralistic term of "FRAUDULENTLY DOCUMENTED" aliens or whatever floats their PC boat.

[Jimi]

I will be tossing my census form into the trash. After all, some illegal alien will get counted for me. I'm done with the Feds. I will not cooperate. I am a citizen of the republic of California and under the 10th admendment the feds can go screw themselves. If I do submit the form, I will lie about everything on it.
If this corrupt federal government wants to make a mockery of the census they can do it without me. They can keep the forms along with their hope and change.
If the feds want to do some counting, how about counting how much this corrupt government is costing us?

[dudeabides]

I'm with Jimi. If everyone called their bluff and also were uncooperative....then what? More childish noncooperation on other government matters from this great "undocumented" bloc? Just great. Sounds like 25M assets to character building....(if we were a den of thieves), instead of a great and proud nation.

This plan to boycott a US government census...I call it a foot-stomping tantrum... with shades of extortion.

Keep at it...these are things which your descendants are going to just swell with pride. ....The story of your "passage" to Estados Unidos....My late first-nation and veteran ancestors would be mortified....selling or offering citizenship on the cheap to those that traipsed up here and then try to call the shots no less! It would be funny as it is so absurd...only it is real.

Hey, 2M illegal LA workers. GET OUT OF DODGE! Don't come back...Adios and just try your tantrum tactics back home, see where that gets you....

[Leslie]

I am sick of Groups of people whose sense of entitlement trumps our laws. If they don't want to be counted fine. Don't expect any "Freebies" because if you aren't counted, there won't be any money for your area. For those Hispanic groups who are pushing things like this YOU are the reason people do not want amnesty for illegal aliens. NO ONE person or race should be entitled to something just because they are here. We all have to go by our laws. If our politicians bow to political pressure and stong holds of NON CITIZENS, they will have to answer to the law abiding citizens and legal aliens in this country.

[Leslie]

Where do these groups get this sense of entitlement?

[Leslie]

By the way. Way to go, this is the only sight I have seen that lets Americans post and use their right to freedom of speech. Unlike CNN!