US administration proposes major changes to 2030 Census

The Trump administration has proposed significant changes to the 2030 United States Census, which could exclude millions of non-citizens from population counts. Under the proposal from the Department of Commerce, while U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents would be included, undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, and individuals with temporary legal status would be excluded.

The U.S. Census Bureau argues that, based on a specific interpretation of the Constitution, undocumented immigrants should not be counted for the purpose of apportioning seats in the House of Representatives, citing a lack of permanent connection or confirmed loyalty to the country. Additionally, the proposal suggests removing questions regarding race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation from the traditional questionnaire, questioning the continued utility of such demographic data.

Critics and data users warn that these changes could have profound consequences. Excluding certain populations could weaken political representation and impact the distribution of federal resources used for public health, natural disasters, and other crises. Furthermore, removing race and ethnicity data may hinder research into discrimination, crime, and economic inequalities.