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Census 2020: US adds controversial citizenship question Census 2020: US adds controversial citizenship question
(about 1 hour later)
A question about citizenship status will be added to the 2020 US census, for the first time since 1950. The 2020 US Census will ask respondents whether or not they are US citizens 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. California and New York vowed to sue to block the move, saying it will deter immigrants from participating.
But the move has proved controversial, amid concerns migrants may not take part as they would fear the information could be used against them. Trump administration officials say the data will help the government allocate resources and enforce voter laws designed to prevent discrimination.
California's attorney general has said he will try to block the move. The census is mandated under the US constitution and takes place every 10 years, counting every resident.
A census is mandated under the US constitution and takes place every 10 years, counting every resident in the country. What are political implications?
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. Critics say Republican administration aims to alter the political balance of power in legislative maps.
President Donald Trump has argued, without providing evidence, that millions of illegal immigrants voted in the 2016 presidential election. Census data helps the US government calculate funding distribution and draw up districts for state and local elections.
The commerce department, which oversees the census, said it had added the question after a request from the justice department. Democratic states with large immigrant populations argue a citizenship question will produce undercounts because fewer people will participate.
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. They fear losing congressional and state legislature seats along with federal funding.
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". Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, told Reuters news agency the question exposed "xenophobic and anti-immigrant policy positions from [the Trump] administration".
Opponents of placing a question about citizenship include the state of California and many interest groups representing migrants. What does Trump administration say?
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra asked a US court to place an injunction on the question. The US Department of Commerce , which oversees the census, said on Monday night it had added the question after a request from the Department of Justice.
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. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the 1965 Voting Rights Act required a tally of citizens of voting age to ensure minority groups were not discriminated against.
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". He said 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".
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. Mr Ross' agency pointed out that other, smaller population surveys also ask respondents whether they are American citizens.
Questions on citizenship have appeared in the past, but not on the more frequent population surveys the census bureau carries out. His agency has until the end of this month to submit a final list of 2020 census questions to Congress.
President Donald Trump has previously argued, without providing evidence, that millions of illegal immigrants voted in the 2016 presidential election.
What do critics say?
New York and California, which have large immigrant populations, are taking legal action to block the move.
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra applied early on Tuesday for a court to rule that such a census question would violate the US constitution.
He argued it would interfere with the US government's obligation to conduct a full count of the population.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said the citizenship question would "create an environment of fear and distrust in immigrant communities".
He also said it would "make impossible both an accurate Census and the fair distribution of federal tax dollars".
The top law enforcement officers of 19 states wrote to the commerce secretary in February to oppose the "tremendous harms" that they say the question would have.