Trump Announces New Census Initiative to Exclude Illegal Immigrants

On Thursday, President Donald Trump revealed plans for a new census initiative aimed at excluding illegal immigrants from the count. In a social media post, he stated that individuals lacking legal status should not be included in the census numbers.

He mentioned, “Our Commerce Department has directed us to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate census based on modern facts and figures—using results and information from the upcoming 2024 presidential election. People without legal status can’t be counted in the census. Be aware of this issue!”

The U.S. typically conducts its census every ten years, with the most recent count happening in 2020, when households were first allowed to respond online.

Traditionally, the census includes a variety of foreign-born residents, such as legal permanent residents, students, refugees, asylum seekers, and those who have entered the country without proper documentation.

Trump’s efforts to eliminate the inclusion of illegal immigrants in the census also ties into his broader strategy to enhance his influence in Congress. The U.S. Census Bureau, as stated on its website, collects data from all foreign-born individuals participating in the census, irrespective of their legal status.

His new initiative seeks to address demographic shifts caused by illegal immigration and its impact on representation. For instance, in the last census, illegal immigrants and their U.S.-born minor children led to the redistribution of congressional seats, with states like Ohio, Michigan, Alabama, Minnesota, and West Virginia each losing one seat.

Estimated figures suggest that between 11 to 22 million undocumented immigrants were residing in the U.S. during the last census, and projections indicate that by 2060, a significant portion of the population will be composed of foreign-born residents at current levels.

The next U.S. census is scheduled for 2030.