With census, concerns about privacy

TAMPA - How does the census count people who are not supposed to be here -- illegal or undocumented residents?

The government doesn't ask that question specifically, but it does want to know how many people live in your house, and it wants an honest answer.

Carlos Diaz just became a U.S citizen and he's not wasting any time jumping on his first civic duty. But to Carlos it means much more than that.

"I feel important now. I can do something for the United States -- whatever they need, I'm here," Diaz said.

Carlos is filling out his Census 2010 form that just arrived in the mail. While he has no problem sharing how many live under his roof, he does admit those close to him are dodging the census question altogether.

"They're afraid cause there illegal here. There illegal here, they work hard, they pay taxes but they don't have papers, " Diaz said.

In fact, Census officials say too often undocumented residents avoid filling out the census questionnaire, and if they do, some fudge the household numbers, according to Tony Morejon with Hillsborough County Adminstrators office.

"There are some groups that are worried about legality of being in this country, so they fear this the way that immigration or ICE will track them down, " Morejon said.

Morejon is the Hispanic Affairs Liaison for Hillsborough County. He says the information people share with the Census Bureau is not shared with anyone else.

"The information collected in the census is a population demographic count that information is not for ICE, INS, or any legal matter at all, " said Morejon.

The Census Bureau urges residents, legal or not, to answer each question honestly. It will make a big difference on how funds are handed out for next 10 years.

"It's confidential, with heavy penalties of law for people who may even think of giving that out, " Morejon said.

Carlos says he's tried to persuade those who fear the census, but often, he says fear wins.

"They don't want to talk about it, they don't want to talk about it. I tried to convince them they don't want to talk about it," Diaz said.