This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43552457
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Census 2020: US adds controversial citizenship question | Census 2020: US adds controversial citizenship question |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A question about citizenship status will be added to the 2020 US census, for the first time since 1950. | A question about citizenship status will be added to the 2020 US census, for the first time since 1950. |
| US officials say the move will help the federal government enforce the Voting Rights Act and give it the data it needs to allocate resources. | US officials say the move will help the federal government enforce the Voting Rights Act and give it the data it needs to allocate resources. |
| But the move has proved controversial, amid concerns migrants may not take part as they would fear the information could be used against them. | But the move has proved controversial, amid concerns migrants may not take part as they would fear the information could be used against them. |
| California's attorney general has said he will try to block the move. | California's attorney general has said he will try to block the move. |
| A census is mandated under the US constitution and takes place every 10 years, counting every resident in the country. | A census is mandated under the US constitution and takes place every 10 years, counting every resident in the country. |
| The data is collected to help the federal government calculate the distribution of funding and draw up district maps to be used at state and local elections. | The data is collected to help the federal government calculate the distribution of funding and draw up district maps to be used at state and local elections. |
| President Donald Trump has argued, without providing evidence, that millions of illegal immigrants voted in the 2016 presidential election. | President Donald Trump has argued, without providing evidence, that millions of illegal immigrants voted in the 2016 presidential election. |
| The commerce department, which oversees the census, said it had added the question after a request from the justice department. | The commerce department, which oversees the census, said it had added the question after a request from the justice department. |
| Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said that the Voting Rights Act required a tally of citizens of voting age to ensure that minority groups were not discriminated against. | Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said that the Voting Rights Act required a tally of citizens of voting age to ensure that minority groups were not discriminated against. |
| He said that even if the citizenship question had an effect on responses, "the value of more complete and accurate data derived from surveying the entire population outweighs such concerns". | He said that even if the citizenship question had an effect on responses, "the value of more complete and accurate data derived from surveying the entire population outweighs such concerns". |
| Opponents of placing a question about citizenship include the state of California and many interest groups representing migrants. | Opponents of placing a question about citizenship include the state of California and many interest groups representing migrants. |
| California Attorney General Xavier Becerra asked a US court to place an injunction on the question. | California Attorney General Xavier Becerra asked a US court to place an injunction on the question. |
| Mr Becerra said it violated the US constitution, as those who are undocumented migrants would fear coming forward and so would stop the federal government from being able to conduct a full count of the US population. | Mr Becerra said it violated the US constitution, as those who are undocumented migrants would fear coming forward and so would stop the federal government from being able to conduct a full count of the US population. |
| Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, told the Reuters news agency the question was in line with "xenophobic and anti-immigrant policy positions from [the Trump] administration". | Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, told the Reuters news agency the question was in line with "xenophobic and anti-immigrant policy positions from [the Trump] administration". |
| Carolyn Malone, a Democrat who represents part of New York City, said the move was "politically motivated" as it could strengthen the Republican Party's position in future elections. | Carolyn Malone, a Democrat who represents part of New York City, said the move was "politically motivated" as it could strengthen the Republican Party's position in future elections. |
| Questions on citizenship have appeared in the past, but not on the more frequent population surveys the census bureau carries out. |