FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will responses be used to round up undocumented residents?
- The Census questionairre does not ask about residency status
- No ICE, No CIA, No FBI, No INS. No one other than you, can request information that can personally identify you from your completed census form.
- All census workers take an oath for life to protect the confidentiality of census responses. Violation will result in a jail term of up to five years, and/or a fine of up to $250,000.
- In contrast, one of the few ways many undocumented residents had to prove their residency in the US to qualify for the amnesty program in 1986 was by requesting their personal census data.
How can Census race data be accurate if my race is not even a choice on the form?
- Census 2010 allows for self-identification of race. Question nine provides a choice for selecting more than one race category. You are encouraged to select one of the provided choices which will allow the Census to identify every person as belonging to at least one of the five racial categories mandated to be captured by law. This allows you to decide how you are categorized. If you still believe your race is not accurately captured, you may also check the last category; Some Other Race, and write in an appropriate description.
Why are Census questionnaires not printed in my language, but printed in others?
- Questionnaires are printed in the languages most frequently spoken in the United States. Various languages may be predominant in different regions of the country, such as Polish in Illinios and Hatian Creole in Florida, but nationwide these numbers are relatively low. To assist residents that speak other languages, 59 language assistance guides will be distributed to assist households to complete their questionnaires.
Why is it important to accurately answer National Origin and Race questions?
- Census race data assist members of ethnic communities in appropriately targeting their planning decisions about economic development projects and community service programs. Many researchers, the media and others rely on census this data.
- Collection of Race and Hispanic national origin data aids governmental goals of combating discrimination. The enforcement of laws such as the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and Equal Opportunities Act rely on this data.
- Census data are the official data used for U.S. population counts. Congress and other federal decision makers refer to census data when making political decisions and understanding who their constituents are.
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