Alliance Raises Concerns about Past Breaches in Census Confidentiality
Alliance Raises Concerns about Past Breaches in Census Confidentiality:
Calls for Comprehensive Immigration Reform to Allay Worries
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 6, 2009
CONTACTS:
MARTÍN PÉREZ – 732-397-8700
FRANK ARGOTE-FREYRE – 908-670-0552
Statement from the Board of Delegates of the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey with Regards to the 2010 Census
Recently Congressman Mike Honda (CA-15th District) issued a statement regarding a report confirming the Census Bureau’s release of detailed information about Japanese Americans to security agencies during World War II. He also noted that in 2004, the Census Bureau provided to the Department of Homeland Security comprehensive reports listing Arab Americans populations by city and zip code. These facts provide some justification for the decision by the National Coalition of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders (CONLAMIC) to urge undocumented members of their churches to boycott the 2010 Census unless Congress passes a comprehensive immigration reform bill that protects the undocumented from further abuses. We respect and understand the position of CONLAMIC, although at this time we stop short of calling for a boycott.
The Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey recognizes that full participation in the 2010 Census is a critical prerequisite for an accurate population count, which is a fundamental tool in achieving fully representative democracy under the United States Constitution. Without an accurate Census, a fully representative democracy and an equitable distribution of resources are at risk. Nevertheless, CONLAMIC and Congressman Honda have raised very real and legitimate concerns about use of the data and the participation in the Census by the 12 million undocumented residents of the United States.
The failure of the United States Congress to resolve the plight of an estimated 12 million undocumented residents is just as much a failure to achieve a fully representative democracy, as would be an inaccurate Census count.
It is imperative that the United States Congress move immediately to pass comprehensive immigration reform this year.
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