It also informs the distribution of trillions in federal funds for schools, transportation, public safety, and healthcare. “The census is the foundation of how our democracy allocates power and resources,” said one legal analyst.
Potential Impact of Excluding Undocumented from US Census
The Department of Homeland Security estimates about 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the U.S., roughly 3% of the population. Removing them from census counts could shift House seats and Electoral College votes away from states with large immigrant populations like California, Texas, and Florida.
Republicans argue that people who are not here legally do not get to vote and are not guaranteed the rights of a US Citizen.
Democrats who are benefitting with more Congressional seats claim that citizenship does not matter.
California, for example, has 2.6 million undocumented residents. Under Trump’s plan, the state could lose multiple congressional seats and billions in federal funding.
Political Context and Next Steps
Trump’s announcement comes as Republicans and Democrats clash over redistricting battles.
