The administration of United States President Donald Trump has unveiled a proposal to significantly exclude millions of non-US citizens from the next full census in 2030, sparking widespread concern among analysts and political strategists. This move, outlined in a memo from the Department of Commerce, could have profound and potentially destabilizing effects on federal aid and the distribution of political representation within the United States. The proposal centers on excluding undocumented immigrants, lawful temporary immigrants who lack permanent status, and individuals deemed ‘not true inhabitants’ – a move rooted in a policy of prioritizing ‘true’ US citizens and permanent residents, according to the White House. The rationale behind this change stems from a desire to reshape electoral power, particularly through congressional redistricting and restrictions on mail-in voting, which activists argue could disenfranchise minority communities. The proposed changes include eliminating questions on race and ethnicity, as well as a question on sexual orientation, mirroring historical practices of the census questionnaire. A 30-day public comment period will follow, after which the Commerce Department will review the feedback before finalizing the policy. Trump has long advocated for altering census policy, recently writing on Truth Social, asserting that ‘people who are in our country illegally will not be counted.’ According to the US Constitution, Congress possesses ultimate authority over the census. The Pew Research Center estimated that 14 million undocumented immigrants resided in the US in 2023, representing a substantial portion of the legal immigrant population, while a significant number of immigrants without permanent status – those residing in the US but without a green card – would also be excluded under this new policy. More than half of undocumented immigrants in the US were concentrated in just six states – California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois – a concentration that significantly impacts demographic representation. The Census Bureau’s data informs hundreds of billions of dollars in federal funding annually, impacting schools, hospitals, and public infrastructure. Advocates, including Meeta Anand of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, highlight the potential ‘earth-shattering’ consequences. Census data ‘undergirds so much of our democracy and our society,’ and could alter representation in Congress and the electoral college, potentially diminishing the political representation of diverse American communities. The Trump administration’s proposal could alter the allocation of seats in the House of Representatives and the electoral college, as well as the drawing of electoral district boundaries. Critics argue the proposal violates the 14th Amendment, which mandates political representation based on ‘the whole number of persons in each State.’ New York Attorney General Letitia James stated her office was investigating challenges to the census plan. The Center for American Progress views the proposal as a ‘flagrant assault on our democracy,’ advocating for citizen petitions to challenge the policy until after Trump leaves office. The proposal could lead to a significant shift in the political landscape, potentially reshaping voting patterns and influencing political decision-making.””}”””””””””””””””””””””””””””””””
Source: Al Jazeera
