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Latino Evangelicals make a truly wacky proposal

Posted April 16, 2009 by Patrick Young, Esq.

A group which claims to represent 20,000 Latino evangelicals is calling on undocumented immigrants to boycott the 2010 Census unless immigration reform passes. The National Coalition of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders, a conservative group formerly close to the Republican Party, is either delusional or is trying to deceive Latinos. Not participating in the Census has no possible benefit for Latino communites and is likely to strengthen the hand of the anti-immigrant movement. Here’s why:
-If Latinos boycott the Census, it will in no way harm the anti-immigrant right. A lower Latino Census count will not deprive them of any resources or power.
-But a boycott will lessen the power of those who support immigration reform. Congressional apportionment is based on Census results. If Latinos boycott the Census, the reported population in districts where they live will be smaller than it actually is and their representation in the Congress will be weaker. As I pointed out a year ago, the areas with large immigrant and Latino populations were the same places likely to be represented in Congress by supporters of immigration reform. Fewer representatives from those areas will result in weakening, not strengthening, support for reform.
-Finally, since Federal aid to a region is determined by Census, immigrant communities will receive less education aid, health care monies, and community development grants. This, coming at a time of recession, could kill already struggling communities.
Fortunately, this organization is tiny and has little clout outside extremely conservative communities. However, any group publically advising people to boycott the Census may muddy the outreach efforts CARECEN and other organizations have already started to make sure everyone is counted.
And that would be tragic.

Tags : census, evangelicals

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