Democrats say citizenship question could derail census test and deter immigrants from participating

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: The Independent

Thursday 19 February 2026 17:53 EST


U.S. Census Bureau plans to use a questionnaire with a citizenship question as part of its practice test for the 2030 census could jeopardize the once-a-decade head count and scare away immigrants from participating, congressional Democrats warned Thursday.

Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform urged the Census Bureau to drop plans to use the American Community Survey form, which includes the citizenship question, and instead use a traditional census questionnaire that omits it. The on-the-ground tests in Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, S.C., start next month.

“The Trump Administration is risking millions of taxpayer dollars to pursue policies which could fatally compromise the 2030 count before it even begins,” they wrote in a letter to acting Census Bureau Director George Cook and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose department oversees the statistical agency.

The Census Bureau and Commerce Department didn't immediately respond to emails seeking comment.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/democrats-howard-lutnick-donald-trump-huntsville-alabama-b2924025.html

[J_William_Ryan]

1. The census counts people, not citizens.

Who is a citizen is irrelevant to the census.

[Historic NY]

6. The U.S. Constitution, in Article I, Section 2, mandates a national census

mandates a national census (an "actual Enumeration&quot every 10 years to count every resident, regardless of citizenship

Even the constitution ACKNOWLEDGES THERE ARE NON-CITIZENS LIVING HERE,

[Igel]

7. Not in that section, at least.

Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct.

The rest of the text--"every 10 years to count..." is the supporting interpretation.

[lark]

2. Trump is a fucking idiot!

If he removes illegals, which states will have their populations decrease the most - magat states of TX and FL and AZ. Sure, reduce their population and reduce their house #'s. Yes, it would hit CA too but 3 for 1 isn't bad and CA wouldn't sell out to make this happen like the magat states would. They too are idiots and just want to please the leader of the Reich!

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Exactly

If they want to meet their deportation "quotas", they will HAVE TO decimate the population of one of their biggest states - Texas, which is "majority minority" (like CA), with FL getting close.

[mdbl]

4. They'll have ICE agents doing the cenus

Show up at peoples doors in riot gear, masks and machine guns.

[Figarosmom]

5. And thats the result the repubs wanted.

But they should be careful. I think there are more immigrants w/o papers in the red states and they could lose some representation in the House.