Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is urging immigrant communities to be counted in the upcoming federal census. The U.S. Census Bureau says immigrants have historically been under-counted. Daley says that could mean the city misses out on millions in federal dollars.
DALEY: We’ve shown that continually with the undercount how much you lose in federal education funds and social services and housing and transportation. All the things that are needed here in this country, not just Chicago but all the cities.
The mayor says some people fear personal information will be turned over to law enforcement or other federal agencies. But the Census Bureau says the questionnaires are confidential, and information has never been abused in the past.
Census questionnaires are going out to households this month.