Undocumented census

Fort SmithOutside The Wire

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) April 22, 2010 8:45 am 46 views 

RedBrownandBlue.com (RBB), a news and commentary Web site, reports that 76% of undocumented immigrants participating in a recent survey say they will respond to the U.S. Census Bureau’s attempts to get info from their group.

The survey included 1,100 undocumented immigrants in Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Phoenix and Washington, D.C., with RBB saying the survey points to “a potentially unprecedented turnout in 2010 Census participation by undocumented Latino immigrants.”

The U.S. Census reportedly spent 20% of its total advertising budget on paid ads aimed at the Hispanic community, mainly Spanish speakers, to increase Hispanic Census participation.

“The increased participation could be the result of a perfect storm," Rudy Ruiz, founding editor of RedBrownandBlue.com, said in a statement. "Never in the history of the Census has so much been invested in ensuring that Latinos, especially the undocumented, participate in this milestone. The Census Bureau has gone to great lengths to reach out and dispel myths and misconceptions about the Census among the undocumented, helping dissipate fears of deportation by participation.”

Ruiz said the increased turnout could boost federal funding for communities with large undocumented populations.

SURVEY RESULTS
• 76% of undocumented immigrants said they would participate in the U.S. Census.

• 16% of undocumented immigrants said they would not participate in the U.S. Census, and 8% of undocumented immigrants said they don’t know whether they will participate.

• 24% of undocumented immigrants said they have participated in a U.S. Census before.

• 72 percent of undocumented immigrants said they have not participated in a U.S. Census before

• Undocumented immigrants in Washington, D.C. ranked first in declared participation at 86%; Los Angeles at 81%; Miami at 80%; Houston at 72%; Phoenix at 71%; and New York at 63%.

• Of those respondents who have been in the United States for 10 or more years, in Phoenix more than half (61%) said they have participated in a U.S. Census before; New York at 60%; Washington, DC at 44%; Houston at 43%; Los Angeles at 31%; and Miami at 25%.