Trump’s Commerce Department is reinstating a citizenship question to the 2020 Census for the first time in 70 years. This is a craven attack on our democracy and a transparent attempt to intimidate immigrant communities and reduce representation in blue states. The census is a constitutionally-mandated count of all U.S. residents, not a political tool for Donald Trump to push his agenda and disempower Latinos and other people of color.
The Trump administration overruled opposition from career officials and former directors of the Census Bureau, who warned that a citizenship question could lead to an inaccurate count.
- Right out of the voter suppression playbook, this is an obvious attempt to keep immigrant communities from having proper representation.
Trump and Republicans are all but guaranteeing an inaccurate count that will protect racial gerrymandering and jeopardize critical resources for communities across the country.
- Democrats will fight this attempt to undermine our democracy in Congress, in the courts, and at the ballot box. Numerous lawsuits have already been filed. But Congress could act to overturn this if we win in November — yet another reason to get to work!
The results of a properly performed census are incredibly valuable to communities across America. That’s exactly why we believe in preserving and enhancing the integrity and accuracy of the census and the American Community Survey (ACS).
- We believe the Census Bureau should have the resources needed to prepare for and conduct a cost-effective, complete and accurate census, as well as improve counting segments of the population that are historically and persistently undercounted.
This means communities of color, immigrants, LGBT people, young children, those with disabilities, and rural and low-income populations.
- We can’t stress just how important it is that the census is conducted by the book. The data coming out of this next census will be used as part of the redistricting process that will control elections for a decade. A fair and accurate census will help ensure voters are picking their representatives, not the other way around.
Read more:
Citizenship question to be put back on the 2020 Census for first time in 70 years
AP FACT CHECK: Trump officials strain truth on census change
To Be Counted or Not to Be Counted: The Census and Latinos
Census Bureau’s Own Expert Panel Rebukes Citizenship Question
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