Foreign-born latinos more positive about census

A new nationwide survey of Latinos has found that foreign-born Latinos are more positive and knowledgeable about the 2010 U.S. Census than are native-born Latinos. Most of both groups say that the Census is good for the Hispanic community, the foreign born are significantly more likely than the native born to feel this way. The foreign born are also more likely to correctly say that the census cannot be used to determine if someone is in the country legally. They are more likely to trust the Census Bureau to keep their personal information confidential. And they are more likely to say they have received messages encouraging them to participate in the census.

The survey was conducted by land-line and cellular telephone from March 16-25, 2010 among a nationally representative sample of 1,003 Latinos. This information was provided by the Pew Hispanic Research center and a report will follow this information April 1.

Hispanics are now the nation’s largest minority group. They numbered 46.8 million, or 15.4% of the total U.S. population, in 2008, up from 35.3 million in the 2000 Census. Among Hispanic adults ages 18 and older, 47% are native born and 53% are foreign born.