Census Proposal Would Stop Counting Undocumented Immigrants—and Ignore Race and Sexual Orientation

The proposed changes to the U.S. Census could significantly impact federal funding distribution and the ability to assess demographic disparities across the country. Currently, the census asks questions about race and sexual orientation, but the new proposal seeks to exclude these questions in order to avoid any potential distortions.

Additionally, the rule would potentially bar "illegal aliens" from being included in the apportionment count, as they are deemed not to meet the criteria of being "true inhabitants" or having a "usual residence" in the United States. This would likely necessitate the reintroduction of a question regarding citizenship status.

The decision has drawn criticism from various groups, including civil rights advocates and lawmakers. Danah Boyd, a professor at Cornell University, notes that eliminating the collection of such data would make it difficult to accurately determine the proportion of minority populations within congressional districts. This, in turn, could hinder efforts to challenge political inequalities and expose significant disparities.

The proposed rule has also raised concerns among employees at the Department of Health and Human Services, who worry that removing undocumented individuals from the census could result in a loss of crucial federal funding for localities with high numbers of such populations. Furthermore, the elimination of racial categories could negatively impact Native populations that often receive specialized funding.

Additionally, the department expresses concern that the addition of a citizenship question could make undocumented individuals or those with undocumented family members hesitant to participate in the census. This fear could lead to undercounting and a subsequent suppression of the population's political power and access to federal funding.