The Trump administration announced earlier this week that the 2020 census will include a question about whether an individual is a citizen of the United States. It's been a question on the census in the past and isn't a new component in determining congressional districts.
Naturally, this news has prompted the left to go ballistic. Here are some examples:
Former Attorney General Eric Holder:
Constitution does not require citizenship question. This is purely political. Trump Administration is trying to rig the 2020 Census (to protect gerrymandering) by intimidating people. Don’t be fooled-some states will unfairly lose funds and representation. We will sue. https://t.co/2R3mZ0FQSp
— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) March 27, 2018
ACLU:
“The Trump administration’s decision to include a question on citizenship in the 2020 census is disastrous. It will severely undermine the accuracy of the census count, particularly in communities of color, which will lose representation and federal resources as a result.
“Five former directors of the census, serving in both Republican and Democratic administrations, have opposed this decision. The notion that it is necessary for Voting Rights Act enforcement is laughable, given that the census has not included a citizenship question since the enactment of the VRA in 1965. The ACLU has fought the Trump administration on numerous fronts, and we will fight it here.”
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California Attorney General Xavier Bacerra:
California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said the state would sue the Trump administration over its decision to add the citizenship question.
"We're prepared to do what we must to protect California from a deficient census," he said. "Including a citizenship question on the 2020 census is not just a bad idea — it is illegal."
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Democrats:
“The political decision to add an untested and damaging question about citizenship to the 2020 Census at the 11th hour will suppress participation,” CHC Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said in a statement.
“This is yet another action by the Trump Administration to instill fear in communities and further an anti-immigrant agenda,” she added.
DNC Chairman Tom Perez:
This week, the Trump administration announced that they intend to include a citizenship question on the 2020 census -- and now it's up to us to stop them.
Adding this question to the census, especially at this point in the process and without any testing, is extremely reckless. It could decrease response rates in communities with large immigrant populations and produce inaccurate results due to incomplete counts. Congress depends on those results not only to decide how to distribute federal resources -- but also to determine the number of congressional districts in each state.
This calculated move is a clear attempt by Republicans to maximize their political power and undermine fair representation in government. We must do everything we can to stop it.
Etc.
According to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the citizenship question on the 2020 census is essential to gathering complete data about the population of the country. The Department of Justice argues it is necessary to enforce the Voting Rights Act.
Over to you, Tucker.
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