Trump Proposes Major Changes to Census Data Collection: Excluding Unauthorized Immigrants – What This Means for You

President Donald Trump has directed the Commerce Department to change how the Census Bureau gathers data. He wants to exclude immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally. This aim aligns with Trump’s ongoing efforts to influence key aspects of U.S. statistics and politics.

On his social media platform, Trump claimed that the updates would draw on “modern day facts and figures,” hinting that the results of the 2024 Presidential Election would shape how data is used. This move raises questions about its impact on political representation and federal funding distribution.

Experts are uncertain whether Trump’s proposal targets the 2030 census or an interim census. Current laws stipulate that mid-decade censuses have their restrictions, especially regarding congressional seat allocation. Terri Ann Lowenthal, a former congressional aide, emphasized that a change like this would need Congressional approval and that the census is governed by law and the Constitution. She remarked, “He cannot unilaterally order a new census.”

Logistics could also be a major roadblock. Jeffrey Wice, a law professor focused on census and redistricting, noted that implementing such a change in a short time would be “almost impossible.”

This isn’t the first time Trump has aimed to alter census-related matters. In 2019, the Supreme Court blocked his attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, citing the 14th Amendment. This amendment mandates counting “the whole number of persons” in each state for congressional apportionment. The last citizenship question was included in 1950, and experts had warned that it could lead to millions being uncounted, especially among Hispanic and immigrant populations.

Trump’s approach could affect the way congressional maps are drawn. Redistricting usually happens every ten years after the census, but Trump is pushing for earlier changes in states like Texas. Although Texas recently adjusted its congressional map, Trump claims the state could gain additional Republican seats due to population growth.

Recent tensions over employment numbers also surfaced after Trump dismissed the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer. Revisions to job reports showed a significant drop in jobs added, challenging Trump’s claims of economic success. Experts argue that this manipulation of statistical data is damaging the federal statistical system. Margo Anderson, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, remarked on Trump’s tendency to seek numbers that bolster his political achievements.

After failing to exclude undocumented immigrants from apportionment figures in legal battles following the 2020 census, Trump still views reshaping the census as a political tool. The Supreme Court sidestepped a direct ruling on the legality of Trump’s approach, merely stating that the case was not suitable for adjudication at the time.

This constant effort to influence how population data is collected and used could have significant implications for American democracy in the years to come. Whether or not changes will come to fruition remains to be seen, but the ongoing conversation emphasizes the critical role of accurate census data in shaping the political landscape in the U.S.

For more information on the U.S. Census Bureau, check out their official page here.

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