Immigration & refugees

Trump Plan Would Cut Immigrants From 2030 Census Count

Is excluding noncitizens from the census a power grab that rigs House seats and funding or a fair count of those with a real stake?

Published 1 day ago

Trump Plan Would Cut Immigrants From 2030 Census Count

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Above: People at a naturalization ceremony for immigrants in Los Angeles, California, on Feb. 15, 2017. Image credit: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Anti-Trump narrative

The Constitution says count "persons," not citizens, and that language was chosen deliberately. Erasing millions of immigrants — including legal ones — from the census count is a naked power grab that would rig House seats, Electoral College math and trillions in funding for health care, housing and schools. Scrapping race and ethnicity data on top of it guts the Voting Rights Act.

Oversight Dems on X The Bulwark

Pro-Trump narrative

Apportionment should reflect people with a real stake in the American constitutional order — citizens and lawful permanent residents — not those here illegally or temporary foreign nationals. Padding the count with people who cannot legally vote hands sanctuary cities extra House seats and federal cash while citizens foot the bill. Refusing to check who belongs in the U.S. is a scandal.

The Center for Renewing America on X Joe Oltmann