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• A new study reveals that including a citizenship question in the U.S. Census could significantly reduce response rates and undermine census accuracy.
• The study supports previous findings that such a question would disproportionately affect immigrant and Hispanic communities.
• The issue has been a point of contention, with GOP lawmakers and some President Trump administration officials advocating for the question, while others argue it violates constitutional requirements.

Quick Brief

2-Minute Digest

Essential Context

The debate over including a citizenship question in the U.S. Census has been ongoing, with roots dating back to the lead-up to the 2020 Census. The President Trump’s attempt to add this question was blocked by federal courts, but the issue remains relevant today.

Core Players

• U.S. Census Bureau – Responsible for conducting the decennial census.
• GOP Lawmakers – Advocating for the inclusion of the citizenship question.
• Civil Rights Groups – Opposing the citizenship question due to concerns over accuracy and fairness.
• Robert Santos – Current Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, who has testified against the inclusion of the citizenship question.

Key Numbers

• 6.07 million – Estimated reduction in the number of Hispanic and Latinx people counted if the citizenship question is included, according to a Harvard Kennedy School study.
• 2.2% – Potential drop in overall Census response rates due to the citizenship question.
• $2.8 trillion – Annual federal assistance allocated based on census data, which could be misallocated due to inaccurate counts.
• 9 million – Estimated number of people who might not complete the census if the citizenship question is included, as per Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton.

Full Depth

Complete Coverage

The Catalyst

The latest study quantifying the potential harm of a citizenship question on census accuracy has reignited the debate. This issue was previously a major point of contention during the President Trump administration, which attempted to add the question to the 2020 Census.

“There is evidence that adding a citizenship question to the decennial census would dampen participation,” said Robert Santos, Director of the U.S. Census Bureau, during a recent congressional hearing.

Inside Forces

The push for a citizenship question is driven by arguments that accurate counts of citizens are necessary for fair elections and redistricting. Proponents argue that this data is crucial for enforcing Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting procedures.

However, opponents argue that the question would lead to significant undercounts, particularly in immigrant and Hispanic communities, due to fear of sharing citizenship status with governmental agencies.

Power Dynamics

The inclusion of a citizenship question has significant political implications. GOP lawmakers argue that it would lead to a more accurate disbursement of federal congressional seats and funding, potentially benefiting Republican-leaning areas. However, this stance is met with strong opposition from Democratic lawmakers and civil rights groups, who argue that it would undermine the constitutional requirement to count all persons, regardless of citizenship status.

Outside Impact

The broader implications of including a citizenship question are substantial. An inaccurate census could result in the misallocation of trillions of dollars in federal and state resources, affecting vital services such as roads, schools, hospitals, and veterans’ care. This would unfairly deprive communities of needed resources for the next decade.

Civil rights groups and some lawmakers argue that this question would violate the constitutional requirement to count every person in the country, as established by the 14th Amendment.

Future Forces

As the 2030 Census approaches, the debate over the citizenship question is likely to continue. Legislation such as the Voter Population Accuracy Act, introduced by Representative Chuck Edwards, aims to require the census to ask about citizenship status. However, such bills face strong opposition and are unlikely to pass without significant controversy.

The Census Bureau and civil rights groups will continue to advocate for an accurate and inclusive census, emphasizing the importance of counting all residents regardless of citizenship status.

Data Points

• 1820 – The year the citizenship question was first included in the U.S. Census.
• 1950 – The year the citizenship question was removed from the decennial census.
• 2019 – The President Trump’s attempt to add the citizenship question was blocked by federal courts.
• 2024 – The Voter Population Accuracy Act was introduced to require the census to ask about citizenship status.
• 2030 – The next U.S. Census, for which the inclusion of a citizenship question remains a contentious issue.