In the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Section 1 reads in part “nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” That one statement requires that everyone in every jurisdiction must be counted in the census. I am not happy about this but that requirement is written into our basic law.
Reverend Miguel Rivera, Chairman of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, has been pushing lawmakers to address immigration reform that would make illegal aliens into legal residents. He is threatening a boycott of the census if there is no action by Congress.
I feel sorry for those who came to the United States by any means possible to make a better life for themselves. I might have done the same thing. However, our first concern ought to be for those who entered the country legally. Generously this country does provide for the protection of illegal aliens.
If the reverend’s boycott campaign is successful the Federal government ought to pass even more stringent laws that would expedite illegal resident deportation.