Trump to Exclude Specific Immigrants from Census Counting
In a move that has sparked significant debate, U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed a new census method that would exclude migrants without regular residence status. This proposed change, if implemented, could potentially alter the distribution of seats in the House of Representatives and the drawing of congressional districts before the 2026 midterm elections.
The U.S. Constitution requires that the number of people living in each state be used as the basis for seat distribution in the House of Representatives. The results of the census are also used as the basis for the proportional distribution of seats and the drawing of congressional districts. Moreover, the results serve as the basis for the distribution of federal funds to states, cities, and towns.
However, whether a president can change the rules for counting on their own is a legally controversial issue. The 14th Amendment mandates counting “the whole number of persons in each state,” which has been interpreted to include all residents, citizens and noncitizens alike. Trump's proposal to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census would contradict this interpretation, likely making such a move unconstitutional and subject to legal challenges.
Trump directed the Commerce Department to begin work on a new and more accurate census, aiming to align the distribution of state funds with the actual need on the ground. However, previous attempts by Trump to alter census counting methods, such as during the 2020 census, faced Supreme Court setbacks, indicating this effort also faces a high likelihood of judicial rejection.
The proposed census change could potentially reduce political influence and funding for regions with a high proportion of such migrants. Large Democrat-run cities like Los Angeles and New York could be particularly affected by this proposed change. The new census would not count people who are "illegally" in the U.S.
It's important to note that, while President Trump can announce such a plan, implementing a census that excludes undocumented immigrants from official population counts requires navigating legal barriers embedded in the Constitution and federal law, making it effectively infeasible without legal battles that courts are likely to decide against such a change.
[1] New York Times [2] CNN [3] Washington Post [4] NPR
The proposed census change by U.S. President Donald Trump, aimed at excluding migrants without regular residence status, could potentially lead to legal challenges due to the 14th Amendment's mandate for counting all residents, including noncitizens, thereby contradicting this interpretation. This controversy is not only a subject of debate in politics but also a matter of policy-and-legislation, highlighted in general-news reports by media outlets such as the New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, and NPR.
