Trump Orders Census to Exclude Undocumented Immigrants, Triggering Constitutional and Political Firestorm
Story written (by SpringnewsNG Media Limited) August 8,2025
Trump Orders Overhaul of U.S. Census to Exclude Undocumented Immigrants, Raising Constitutional and Legal Concerns
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Commerce to begin preparing a new national census that excludes undocumented immigrants from the official population count, sparking fierce constitutional and political debate ahead of the 2030 census.
In a statement posted Thursday on Truth Social, Trump said he had instructed officials to design a “new and highly accurate” census that draws on updated data from the 2024 presidential election and reflects what he called “modern-day facts and figures.”
The announcement immediately raised red flags among constitutional scholars and civil rights advocates, as it challenges long-standing interpretations of the 14th Amendment, which requires that congressional representation be based on “counting the whole number of persons in each state”—a phrase historically understood to include all residents, regardless of citizenship or immigration status.
“The Constitution mandates a census every ten years that counts every single person in the country, regardless of their citizenship status,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler, a senior Democrat. “Trump tried this in 2020, and the courts rejected it. The law is clear.”
The Census Bureau has consistently affirmed that the decennial census is intended to count every resident in the United States. In 2019, the Supreme Court blocked Trump’s previous attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, ruling that the administration failed to provide a “reasoned explanation.” However, with the current Court leaning more conservative, legal experts believe this new push could play out differently.
Political Implications and Federal Funding Impact
Supporters of the move argue that including undocumented immigrants in the census unfairly boosts representation and federal resources for Democratic-leaning states with large immigrant populations.
“‘We the People’ means citizens, not invaders,” said Republican Congressman Mark Harris on X (formerly Twitter). “Counting illegal aliens disenfranchises Americans and rewards blue states. Let’s get a recount—ASAP!!”
Opponents warn that excluding undocumented immigrants could drastically skew population data, reduce representation in Congress for certain states, and threaten the equitable distribution of more than $1.5 trillion in annual federal funding for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and emergency services.
Experts also warn that the plan risks eroding public trust in the census process and could result in severe undercounting, especially in urban and immigrant-rich communities.
As legal and political battles loom, Trump’s proposed census overhaul is shaping up to be a major flashpoint in the lead-up to the 2030 census, potentially reshaping the political landscape and distribution of power for the next decade.
Written by SpringnewsNG Media Limited
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