Trump officials push to exclude undocumented immigrants from US census

The Trump administration unveiled plans on Wednesday to modify the US census, aiming to exclude undocumented immigrants alongside other groups. These alterations to the data collected by the Census Bureau could significantly impact the distribution of federal funds and the apportionment of congressional districts in the House of Representatives.

The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register, also outlines potential changes to the inquiries regarding race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Historically, the census has counted every individual residing in the United States, irrespective of their citizenship or legal status under the 14th amendment. Undocumented immigrants would now be excluded from the count due to their "lack of a sufficient tie and allegiance to the United States," as well as those with legal statuses that are "less durable and indefinite in length than lawful permanent resident status."

The bureau considers employing "its enormously broad access to administrative records" to ascertain the legal status of respondents, potentially drawing on data from various departments and agencies. The proposed changes echo Trump's efforts during his first term, when he attempted to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census but was thwarted by the Supreme Court.

The bureau is also reevaluating the necessity and relevance of questions concerning race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, citing the "potentially sensitive nature" of such inquiries and concerns about the potential impact on response rates. Legal challenges from Democrats and advocacy groups are anticipated should the Census Bureau proceed with these modifications, with Democrats criticizing the administration for attempting to "rig" the survey and asserting that the 14th amendment mandates a complete count of all individuals in the United States.