For the past few months, I have read about some efforts to encourage Latinos to not participate in the upcoming census. More specifically, Nativo Lopez of the Mexican American Political Association and Rev. Miguel Rivera of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders have been encouraging undocumented immigrants to not participate in the 2010 census. Undocumented people will not be reported to immigration authorities if they participate in the Census. The point of the Census is to get an accurate count, not to enforce immigration laws or other regulations. However, within our community, some feel that not participating will force the immigration issue to the front of the policy agenda.

Just this week, Nativo Lopez, president of Hermandad Mexicana, said, “Why should we cooperate with a government that does not cooperate with us, but continues to prosecute us and, under the Obama administration, we have enforcement only, rather than immigration reform? In the past, we’ve promoted the census, but now we’re ardent promoters of ‘Antes de contar, tienes que legalizar.’ Until you legalize me, don’t count me.”

One of the reasons why Latinos may be discouraged from participating in the Census has to do with immigration authorities and law enforcement more broadly. It is no secret that those who are in the country without legal status try to avoid government authorities for fear of being reported to ICE or other law enforcement. Census workers have to sign an affidavit and swear an oath that they will never disclose the information that they collect to anyone other than the Census Bureau.

Latina Lista even writes that the Rev. Miguel Rivera is using fear tactics saying that information reported to the Census is then turned over to ICE so that the undocumented do not participate. And Latina Lista appropriately points out that “We have only to look at past Census campaigns to know that no information was shared and no one was deported as a result of filling out the forms.”

The Census is important for so many reasons such as local funding, redistricting, and prioritizing infrastructure related projects that are dependent on the population count. While undocumented people use some of these services, they should be counted so that we can make a case for including them in the system legally. If we don’t have an idea as to how many people are living here in the US, it may be harder to estimate how many undocumented people are here as well.

By not being counted, we cannot even say that our strength is in our numbers. Localities that have a lot of immigrants or Latinos, even citizens, who are being discouraged from participating could lose political clout along with much needed government funds.

Finally, per my previous post, I don’t think that we are going to have immigration reform before the Census is completed, especially if unemployment continues to rise. Immigration reform will likely occur more incrementally in my view, but this issue with the Census  boycott and those who encourage full participation is yet another reason why it is hard to accomplish anything within the Latino community. We simply are too diverse in views and approaches to get on the same page for an issue as big as immigration reform and participating in the Census. Interestingly enough, I have not heard of other ethnic groups with other groups of immigrants promoting or suggesting similar boycotts.