What's happened
President Trump has ordered the Commerce Department to begin work on a new census based on modern data, excluding undocumented immigrants. This move aims to influence congressional apportionment and redistricting, but faces legal and logistical challenges due to constitutional requirements for counting all residents every decade.
What's behind the headline?
The recent push by Trump to exclude undocumented immigrants from the census reflects a strategic attempt to reshape political power distribution in favor of Republicans. This move leverages the legal ambiguity surrounding census data collection, especially given the constitutional requirement to count 'the whole number of persons' in each state. By claiming the new census will be 'highly accurate' and based on 'modern facts,' Trump aims to justify a politically motivated revision that could undercount urban, immigrant-heavy areas typically leaning Democratic. This effort risks undermining the integrity of the census, which is foundational for resource allocation and representation. The legal landscape is complex; courts have previously blocked similar initiatives, citing violations of constitutional mandates. The move also signals an intent to influence the 2026 midterm elections by redrawing districts based on skewed data, potentially entrenching partisan advantages. If successful, this could set a precedent for politicizing demographic data, eroding trust in federal statistical agencies, and complicating future redistricting processes. The timing suggests a broader strategy to influence upcoming elections and congressional control, with implications for federal funding and political representation across the country.
What the papers say
The AP News reports that Trump has directed the Commerce Department to begin work on a new census, citing 'modern day facts' and the 2024 election results, with a clear intent to exclude undocumented immigrants. Critics, including legal experts, argue this violates the constitutional requirement to count all persons, regardless of legal status, and warn of potential legal challenges. The NY Post highlights the logistical and legal difficulties of conducting a mid-decade census, emphasizing that such a move would be unprecedented and legally complex. Al Jazeera and The Independent detail Trump's previous attempts to influence census data, including efforts to add a citizenship question and exclude non-citizens, both blocked by courts. They also note the constitutional and legal hurdles, with critics asserting that excluding undocumented immigrants would distort representation and resource distribution. Bloomberg underscores the political motivation behind these efforts, linking them to Trump's broader strategy to favor Republican gains in upcoming elections and redistricting, despite legal and logistical obstacles. Overall, the coverage reveals a pattern of attempts to politicize census data, risking legal conflicts and undermining the integrity of the federal statistical system.
How we got here
Trump's previous efforts to alter census procedures included attempts to add a citizenship question and exclude non-citizens from counts, both blocked by courts. His administration has consistently sought to influence demographic data to favor Republican interests, especially in redistricting and resource allocation. The upcoming 2030 census is central to these efforts, with potential legal battles over the inclusion of undocumented immigrants and the legality of mid-decade surveys.
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Common question
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Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
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The United States Census Bureau is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and its director is appointed
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The United States Census Bureau is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce and its director is appointed
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In the United States, the Department of Commerce is an executive department of the federal government concerned with promoting economic growth.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.