Trump Announces Mid-Term Census to Address Illegal Immigration
On Thursday, President Trump declared his intention to initiate a rare mid-term census aimed at tackling illegal immigration, as the political landscape becomes increasingly competitive between Republicans and Democrats.
“I have directed our Commerce Department to start work on a new, highly accurate census rooted in current facts and data from the 2024 presidential election,” Trump stated. He emphasized, “People who are illegal in our country are not counted in the census.”
Traditionally, the U.S. Census Bureau collects information from all individuals, including foreign-born residents, regardless of their legal status.
The census plays a crucial role in determining the allocation of 435 seats in the House of Representatives. After each census, states undergo a redistricting process to define legislative boundaries.
The Constitution mandates a census every ten years, though there have been rare instances in history, like during the 1970s, when mid-term counts were conducted. Most mid-decade attempts were scaled back, such as the effort in 1975.
Trump’s proposal for a mid-term census is expected to face legal opposition from Democrats. Historically, such measures required Congressional approval rather than presidential action.
During his first term, Trump attempted to include a citizenship question in the 2020 census but ultimately withdrew it due to legal challenges.
The last census, carried out in 2020, revealed significant undercounting in many Republican-leaning states, including Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas, while capturing more residents in several Democratic-leaning states, such as Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, and Rhode Island.
In the last census, states like Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, and Texas gained representation, whereas California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia lost seats. This shift benefitted Republicans ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
Now, both parties are re-evaluating the redistricting process earlier than usual, with Trump searching for strategies to strengthen GOP positions amidst challenging political conditions.
A renewed redistricting push emerged recently when Texas Republicans moved to reshape their Congressional map to gain additional seats for their party, a move Trump endorsed.
However, Texas Democrats counterattacked by leaving the state during special sessions to stall Republican efforts.
Democratic officials from states like California and New York have threatened to alter Congressional maps in response, putting pressure on Republicans.
This creates opportunities for Republicans to potentially reconfigure districts in places like Missouri and Indiana.
Historically, the political party in the White House faces challenges during midterm elections. Trump is keen to navigate these hurdles to maintain his influence in the latter part of his term.
