Census campaign for New Bedford immigrants kicked off

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. - Immigrant advocates and religious leaders have kicked off a campaign hoping to convince undocumented immigrants in the New Bedford area to respond to the U.S. Census.

The public awareness campaign, launched Tuesday at the New Bedford Whaling Museum, aims to ease immigrants' fears about participating in the federal government's annual headcount.

The federal government is required by the Constitution to conduct the census every 10 years, and the results are used to apportion political representation and federal aid. All residents living in the U.S. - regardless of immigration status - are counted.

New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang said he believes the census undercounted about 5,000 people in the city 10 years ago.

Lang estimated the city's current population is around 100,000.

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Information from: The Standard-Times, http://www.southcoasttoday.com