A lot of immigrants, especially undocumented immigrants, have questions about the 2010 US Census. Are immigrants counted? Is information on immigrants used by the ICE or the USCIS? Will taking the census affect your immigration status? We’ll answer these questions and others.
The Census will count everyone living in the US, regardless of immigration status. This means that even if you are a non-citizen, even if you are undocumented, or have moved recently, or don’t intend to stay, or are on a temporary work visa, you have to fill out the form if you receive it, and mail it in.
Census forms are usually filled out one for each household. If you have many people in a family or many families in one house, you may only need one Census form for all of them. The census form is short; it’s only 10 questions long.
The information on your Census form is completely confidential. The Census Bureau, an independent office in the US government, takes your information but doesn’t share it with any other agency, company, or person, even if they represent or are a part of the government. That includes law enforcement. Your information, including your immigration status, is protected by law and by an oath every Census employee takes by which they swear that they will never disclose any of the information they gather, at any time, for any reason, except to the Census Bureau. You will not be arrested, deported, fined, or forced to do anything on the basis of your Census form. Your immigration status will not be reported or affected by taking the Census.
All Census forms that are mailed are written in English. But, if you would prefer a Census form in Spanish, you can request one from the Census Bureau. Census forms are also available in other common immigrant languages, including Vietnamese, Chinese, Russian, and Korean. If you would like a form in Spanish and live in Scott County or Muscatine County, Iowa; or in Henry County, Mercer County, or Rock Island County, Illinois, please contact the Bi-State Regional Commission at (309) 793-6300. Before contacting them, please wait for your first form to be mailed to you as you may receive a bilingual version in the mail.
All Census forms and services are free.
If you don’t mail back the Census form, Census employees will visit your home in May or June. All the above information still applies if Census workers have to visit your home.
You can learn more about the US Census at <http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/factSheet_General_ES.pdf> (en Español) and <http://2010.census.gov/partners/pdf/factSheet_General.pdf> (in English).
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