Don't Count 'em; Deport 'em!

The U.S. Census Bureau stepped in it big time when it suggested they might ask that enforcement efforts against illegal immigrants be suspended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (I.C.E.) during the 2010 census count. This was reported by U.S.A. Today and others on Thursday, August 16, 2007.

"We're supposed to count every resident. If you go out and ask, 'Are you here illegally?' they are going to run," said Kenneth Prewitt, who directed the Census Bureau during the 2000 census. According to Deputy Director Preston Jay Waite, deportations were suspended during the 2000 count.

The reaction to this trial balloon was swift. Anti-illegal immigration activists were outraged that one government agency would ask another to violate the law. To quell the furor, I.C.E. spokesperson Kelly Nantel said on Friday, August 17th, "I don't want there to be any question in the American people's mind as to whether or not ICE would suspend enforcement efforts. The answer to that is emphatically no."

The Census Bureau backpedaled on Saturday, August 18th with a press release. In it, Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon claimed media reports regarding interagency coordination were inaccurate. Her statement was:

"The Census Bureau has not requested that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency refrain from enforcing immigration laws. While previous Administrations sought to have law enforcement raids curtailed somewhat to help obtain greater accuracy, we respect ICE's statement that they will not suspend raids even if a decision were made to ask them to do so. The Census Bureau fully recognizes that times have changed, with new challenges facing immigration authorities, and Census will change with those times."

"For the Census Bureau to be successful in getting an accurate count of all residents (as mandated by Article I, Section 2, of the Constitution), the Census Bureau will rely heavily on trusted individuals and organizations within hard to count populations to partner with us to increase public awareness that it’s important and safe to participate in the 2010 Census."

"The Census Bureau will complete its mission to count everyone and regrets any misimpression we left."

Isn't that special? Although activists like Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, would be horrified, I think it would be a wonderful idea if the census takers were accompanied by I.C.E. officials. It would satisfy constitutional requirements if illegal aliens were arrested and deported before they could be counted.