Immigration Advocates Condemn Proposal Excluding Non-Citizens From Census 2030

NEW YORK, New York – Immigration advocates have condemned the Donald Trump administration’s proposal excluding non-citizens from Census 2030, setting up a 14th Amendment challenge.

The Trump administration published a proposal last Thursday for major changes to how the United States government produces census results for Census 2030, which includes excluding US residents who live, work and contribute to their communities but do not hold citizenship or a green card, and eliminating questions about race and ethnicity.

“The proposed rule change raises serious constitutional and civil rights concerns,” said Murad Awawdeh, president and chief executive officer of the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups.

He told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that historically, the US Census, required by the 14th Amendment, counts “the whole number of persons in each State” and collects demographic data including race and ethnicity.

Awawdeh said census data are then used to determine the distribution of seats in the US House of Representatives and the allocation of federal funding to state and local governments.

“By excluding large swaths of residents and race and ethnicity data, immigrants and communities of color will have less ability to identify disparities and discrimination, hold institutions accountable, and enforce civil rights protections that ensure equal representation and equal access to resources and opportunities,” he said.

“The end result would critically undermine civil rights and voting rights protections. A fair and accurate decennial census is crucial to ensuring a healthy democracy.”

Awawdeh said that the proposed rule change is designed to deprive historically marginalised communities and immigrant-rich states – like New York – of their rightful share of political power and funding.

“Restricting who is counted and removing information about race and ethnicity is an attempt to erase the power, presence, and diverse needs of our communities from future federal data used for redistricting, enforcing the Voting Rights Act, and other antidiscrimination protections.”

Awawdeh said this is not the first time that the Trump administration has sought to undermine the US Census, noting that in 2018, the administration tried to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, and that NYIC “fought them all the way to the Supreme Court and won.

“Immigrants and communities of colour cannot be denied their Constitutional right to be counted. Elected officials must resist all attempts to undermine the 2030 Census, our democracy, and our legal right to be included in the census.”

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin said Trump’s proposed sweeping changes to the US Census would reshape how US populations are counted.

“The Census touches every piece of New Yorkers’ lives, which is why an accurate count is crucial. President Trump’s proposal week to exclude anyone who is not a US citizen or permanent resident from the census is not only deeply concerning, it is unconstitutional and undermines the democratic process.

“US Census data determines how much federal funding we get for our schools, hospitals, housing, transportation, and social services for the next decade. Equally troubling is his proposal to remove questions of race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, which provides the critical demographic data needed to enforce landmark anti-discrimination protections like the Voting Rights Act.”

Having led New York City’s Census in 2020, Menin said she understands that “these kinds of exclusionary measures hurt us all,” stating that she will “work tirelessly to ensure that every New Yorker gets the representation they deserve, regardless of status.”

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said “make no mistake, this is another attempt by Trump to hurt New Jersey – weaponising a nonpartisan issue like the census to rig the system for his own political benefit.

“This isn’t new: he’s denied New Jersey FEMA recovery funding; he’s started a trade war with Canada, our largest trading partner, raising costs on families and small businesses; and his endless war with Iran has driven gas prices through the roof for millions of New Jerseyans,” she added.

“Now, these proposed changes could cost New Jersey federal representation and our fair share of federal funding – even though we send far more tax dollars to Washington than we get in return.. The Constitution is clear, and we won’t stand for another blatant money grab against New Jersey taxpayers.”