Federal officials said Friday that the Census Bureau is reporting demographic data about Arab-Americans to a homeland security agency but only population numbers and not names, addresses or other private details.
Responding to requests from the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, the Census Bureau has given files that included a count of residents of Arab descent in certain ZIP codes.
Customs and census officials say no rules were violated. Such requests are common, and the information already was available on the bureau’s Web site, Census Bureau deputy director Hermann Habermann said Friday.
Customs Commissioner Robert Bonner, who met with several Arab-American groups Friday about the matter, said in one instance, information was used to help determine at what U.S. airports to post signs in languages other than English.
