The Trump administration has put forward a proposal to alter the US census process by excluding undocumented immigrants from the population tally. This potential change could have a notable impact on the allocation of federal resources and the configuration of congressional districts. While lawful permanent residents would continue to be counted, undocumented immigrants and certain other non-permanent immigration categories might be omitted. To ascertain the legal status of individuals, the Census Bureau is contemplating the use of government administrative records.
Traditionally, the US census, which takes place every decade, includes all individuals residing in the country, irrespective of their citizenship or immigration status. The data collected plays a crucial role in distributing federal funding and determining the number of seats allocated to each state in the House of Representatives.
Additionally, the administration is evaluating potential modifications to questions related to race and ethnicity. The review is being conducted due to concerns regarding the relevance and sensitivity of the information collected through these questions. Any adjustments made could have an impact on the demographic data utilized by governments and policymakers across the nation.
The proposal has sparked anticipation of legal opposition, particularly from Democrats and advocacy groups. They argue that the Constitution mandates the census to count every person living in the United States, regardless of their immigration status.