Mass. fears a gap in census With immigrants wary, undercount would hurt state

The Boston Globe reports:

After years of highly publicized immigration raids, community organizers and government officials are growing increasingly worried that many immigrants will not open their doors to census takers in 2010, a scenario that could cost Massachusetts millions in federal dollars and possibly a congressional seat.

Although the next census is still 17 months away, federal, state, and local authorities are stepping up efforts to reach immigrants and other hard-to-count groups.

In recent weeks, the Census Bureau has opened new offices in Massachusetts and is preparing a massive media blitz in multiple languages.

Officials are also planning to recruit community organizers who speak languages from Somali to Spanish and teach about the census in religious congregations and schools.

Massachusetts is afraid that they are going to lose another House seat after the 2010 Census.You'll notice that Texas,which has a lot of minorities,isn't worried about counting people.