Today’s Action: Keep the ‘citizenship’ question off the 2020 Census

In yet another attack on America’s immigrants, Trump has directed the Census Bureau to include a question of citizenship on the 2020 census — the first time this question would be included since 1950. Advocate groups, including the ACLU, are decrying this unconstitutional move, knowing that many immigrants will refuse to complete the survey out of fear of retribution.

The mandatory census is the government’s most powerful tool for determining federal funding distribution and, more to Trump’s agenda, representation in Congress and state legislatures. Since immigrants tend to live in Democratic areas, reducing headcount would gerrymander districts and House seats in favor of the GOP at both the state and federal level.

Congress must stop Trump from using our immigrant communities as yet another weapon to rig elections for the GOP. Call or email your Members of Congress and demand they pass legislation to keep the citizenship question off the census.

And it isn’t just Democrats claiming this will hurt the census. Trump’s own Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who is in charge of implementing the change, has admitted that adding the question could depress response rates.

Our immigrant population already has so much to fear under the current administration. We must continue to fight Trump’s efforts to bully and threaten immigrants into silence and erasure.

Email or call (202.224.3121) your Members of Congress and demand they ensure the census acts as intended – surveying ALL residents of the United States – and pass legislation to keep the citizenship question out.