Trump Administration Proposes Overhaul to Exclude Certain Immigrants from US Census

The administration of President Donald Trump has submitted a significant proposal to overhaul the United States census by excluding certain noncitizens from the population count. Released by the Department of Commerce, the proposal mandates that while US citizens and lawful permanent residents would be counted, other foreign nationals—including temporary legal status holders and undocumented immigrants—would be left out.

Population counts determine the allocation of government resources and seats in the House of Representatives. The proposal also suggests eliminating specific questions regarding race and ethnicity, citing doubts about their significance and usefulness, while arguing that a reduced response burden would improve participation rates and ensure fairer political representation.

This initiative marks a departure from historical precedent established by the 1790 Census Act, which instructed workers to count anyone with a usual place of abode in the US regardless of citizenship status. Furthermore, the new proposal seeks to verify citizenship responses by cross-referencing government records from the Department of Homeland Security and Treasury, alongside adding questions concerning legal immigration status to the short-form questionnaire.

Critics, including demographer William Frey from the Brookings Institution, warn that the proposal aims to redefine American identity and could create a chilling effect on participation, potentially risking communities' access to federal funding. In fiscal year 2021, census data was utilized to distribute more than $2.8 trillion in federal assistance. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has warned that states could forfeit billions in welfare funding if they fail to report undocumented immigrants, and the US Census Bureau has not responded to requests for comment.