I applaud this decision.

In contrast to the months before and after the 2000 census was conducted, federal officials say they will not suspend raids on illegal immigrants during the population count in 2010.

“We would not even consider scaling back our efforts,” said Pat A. Reilly, a spokeswoman for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The census counts all residents, legal and illegal.

This month, Preston Jay Waite, the Census Bureau’s deputy director, cautioned in an interview that raids during the population count would further discourage an already distrustful group from cooperating with government enumerators. Mr. Waite said federal officials did not conduct raids for several months before and after the 2000 census.

Given how politically volatile an issue immigration has become, however, Mr. Waite was quoted by The Associated Press as saying that enforcement agencies “may not be able to give us as much of a break” in 2010.

We don't suspend other law enforcement activities at the time of the Census so that we can guarantee an accurate count. We still pick up thieves, rapists, and murders, even though it makes them less likely to fill out a census form or answer the door for a census worker. The public would be outraged if we did.

And for the same reason, we should give no quarter to border jumping immigration criminals.