Trump proposes altering the method of census data collection and considers excluding undocumented immigrants residing in the United States
In a move that could potentially reshape political power and federal funding distribution, President Trump has instructed the Commerce Department to change the way the U.S. Census Bureau collects data, aiming to exclude immigrants who are in the United States illegally from census counts [1][2].
This proposal, if implemented, would reduce the total population counts used for apportioning congressional seats and distributing federal funds, thereby shifting political power and resources away from states and localities with large undocumented immigrant populations.
The proposed changes impact two critical functions of the census:
- Political power: Census counts determine how many seats each state gets in the House of Representatives (apportionment). Excluding undocumented immigrants would lower states' populations, potentially reducing their congressional representation.
- Federal funding: Many federal programs allocate funds based on census population figures. Lower counts would result in less funding for states and localities with sizable undocumented populations.
However, significant hurdles exist in implementing these changes. The Census Act governs census procedures and requires that population counts be as accurate and inclusive as possible, traditionally counting all residents regardless of citizenship or legal status [1][2]. Any alteration to exclude undocumented immigrants would require Congressional approval to amend the Census Act.
Moreover, the Act prohibits using mid-decade census counts for apportionment; only decennial census counts (conducted every 10 years) are valid for this purpose. Attempts to alter how the census counts undocumented immigrants have faced legal challenges in the past, with courts often ruling that the Constitution requires counting the “whole number of persons” residing in the states, without excluding based on immigration status.
The proposed changes could provoke legal battles over constitutional and statutory compliance and likely intensify partisan conflicts over census methodology [1][2].
It's worth noting that in 2019, the Supreme Court effectively blocked Trump from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census. Additionally, Trump's attempt to reshape the census in 2020 to exclude people living in the country illegally from the apportionment figures was ruled illegal by lower courts.
The U.S. population has become more diverse, as shown by the 2020 census, with Latinos being undercounted by 5% in the latest census, more than three times the amount in 2010. The changes sought by Trump aim to undermine this diversity and could face legal challenges due to potential implications on the distribution of $2.8 trillion in federal funds.
In other developments, Texas, under Republican control, has redrawn its maps just a few years ago, but Trump is urging for another redrawing. Texas currently has 38 House seats, with 25 held by Republicans. Governor Gavin Newsom of California plans to put new district lines in front of voters in a special election on Nov. 4, but only if Texas moves forward with its redistricting plans.
Trump's team is also engaged in similar redistricting discussions in other GOP-controlled states, including Missouri and Indiana. Any changes to the national census would require alterations to the Census Act and approval from Congress, making this a complex and contentious issue with far-reaching implications for the future of American politics and funding distribution.
[1] The New York Times. (2020, October 8). Trump's Census Plan to Exclude Undocumented Immigrants Could Shift Power. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/08/us/politics/trump-census-immigrants.html
[2] NPR. (2020, October 12). Trump's Effort To Exclude Undocumented Immigrants From Census Could Face Legal Challenges. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2020/10/12/922250265/trumps-effort-to-exclude-undocumented-immigrants-from-census-could-face-legal-cha
- The controversial move by President Trump to change the U.S. Census Bureau's data collection method, intending to exclude immigrants living in the country illegally, has the potential to reshape political power and federal funding distribution, similar to the Politics and general-news categories.
- A significant issue with this proposal is that it contravenes the Census Act, which mandates accurate and inclusive population counts, including undocumented immigrants [1][2].
- If implemented, the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from census counts could impact federal funding for programs allocated based on population figures, specifically affecting states with sizeable undocumented populations [1][2].
- The ruling by lower courts in 2020 declared as illegal Trump's attempt to reshape the census, excluding people living in the country illegally from the apportionment figures, indicating the potential for future legal challenges in relation to this current proposal [1][2].
- Apart from the census controversy, there's been political maneuvering in Texas and California over redistricting [3], further highlighting the divisive nature of politics and the potential for partisan conflicts.
- Any changes to the national census must comply with the Constitution in terms of counting the "whole number of persons" residing in the states, regardless of immigration status, to prevent potential legal battles over the distribution of $2.8 trillion in federal funds [1][2].
