Advocates Warn Census Bureau Plan to Exclude Noncitizens Is Unconstitutional
The Census Bureau last month proposed counting only citizens and lawful permanent residents in the 2030 census and eliminating questions on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Advocates, local officials, and civil rights groups argue the plan violates the 14th Amendment, which they say requires counting "the whole number of persons," not just citizens, and warn it would undercount immigrant communities and distort resource allocation. Public comments are due November 2, and opponents say they expect the plan, if finalized, to face legal challenges similar to the one that blocked a citizenship question from the 2020 census. Local leaders like Tempe Councilwoman Doreen Garlid and advocacy groups such as North Carolina Counts and the New York Immigration Coalition are urging officials to formally oppose the proposal before the deadline.