Trump initiated US census to strengthen Republican power
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump has announced plans to conduct a new national census that would exclude undocumented immigrants. The initiative has already sparked controversy and could lead to legal challenges, according to Trump’s post on Truth Social.
Trump said he instructed the US Department of Commerce to begin preparations for a new census that will exclude undocumented immigrants.
"I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate census based on modern-day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024. People who are in our country illegally will not be counted," Trump wrote.
The proposal marks a significant departure from the traditional practice of counting all residents of the country in the census, regardless of their legal status.
Experts note that the initiative could significantly shift the balance of power in Congress, as changing the rules could redistribute seats in favor of Republican states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
According to the US Constitution, the census must be conducted every ten years to determine the number of seats each state gets in Congress. As stated on the official census website, the purpose of this process is to count absolutely all residents of the country. The 14th Amendment also requires that the total number of people in each state be counted. Any changes to this procedure could affect the political balance between states and in the House of Representatives.
This is not Trump’s first attempt to change the census. During his first presidency, he tried to add a citizenship question to the survey, but the Supreme Court blocked the idea.
In addition, legal experts emphasize that Trump does not have the authority to unilaterally change the census procedure. Such a change would require congressional approval, and the process would be complicated and likely lead to legal battles.
Jeffrey Wice, a professor at New York Law School who specializes in redistricting and the census, said it was typical of Trump to make statements that were ill-considered, impractical, or illogical, and lacking in detail.
Trump is not the first Republican in recent weeks to call for a revised census.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia recently introduced a bill that, among other things, calls for a new census to count only citizens, followed by a redistribution of congressional seats based on the results.
For reference, the UK is changing its policy toward Ukrainians; authorities have begun denying permanent asylum to many, citing the safety of western regions of Ukraine. This has raised concerns among refugees about the uncertainty of their future.
