Trump Calls for New Census Excluding Undocumented Immigrants

Tone & Political Bias: Strongly Right-Leaning

Why: The proposal directly aligns with long-standing conservative goals on immigration and congressional representation, emphasizing exclusion of undocumented immigrants and skepticism toward federal agencies.

What Happened

President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he has ordered the Department of Commerce to begin work on a new U.S. census that would exclude undocumented immigrants from the official population count.

“People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

He stated the new census would be based on “modern day facts and figures” and include insights “gained from the Presidential Election of 2024.” The move marks a significant departure from long-standing census practice.

Why It Matters

The U.S. census determines congressional representation and the allocation of federal funding. The Constitution and the 14th Amendment require counting the “whole number of persons in each State,” regardless of legal status. If undocumented immigrants are excluded, states with larger immigrant populations could lose seats in Congress and federal resources.

Context: Long-Standing Practice

• The census, conducted every 10 years, has historically counted all residents—citizens and non-citizens alike.

• The U.S. Census Bureau states it is designed to count “every resident in the United States.”

• Changing this practice would likely face legal and constitutional challenges.

  
  

Political Pressure and Redistricting

Trump’s announcement comes amid increased pressure from the White House for Republican-led states to redraw their congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. A census that excludes undocumented immigrants could significantly affect how districts are drawn and shift political power in favor of the GOP.

Previous Attempt in 2020

During his first term, Trump attempted to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. That effort was blocked by the Supreme Court, which ruled that the administration’s justification was “contrived.” Critics warned that including the question would discourage participation, especially among immigrants and minority communities, resulting in an undercount.

After the Supreme Court’s ruling, Trump shifted strategies and directed federal agencies to share records that could estimate the number of citizens without directly asking census respondents.

Legal and Constitutional Hurdles

• The 14th Amendment mandates counting all persons, not just citizens.

• Any effort to exclude certain residents could be challenged in court for violating the Constitution.

• Experts say that even attempts to conduct a separate “citizens-only” count could be used politically but may not be recognized legally for apportionment purposes.

  
  

Broader Pattern of Undermining Agencies

Trump’s census announcement follows his recent firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. He accused her—without evidence—of manipulating job data for political purposes. Critics argue this reflects a broader effort by Trump to question the integrity of federal institutions and data reporting agencies.

Key Impacts to Watch

• Redistricting Battles: States could redraw maps using altered population numbers, affecting the balance of power in Congress.

• Federal Funding: Areas with large undocumented populations could lose funding tied to census counts.

• Legal Challenges: Constitutional challenges are expected if the federal government attempts to change who is counted in the official census.

• Political Messaging: Trump’s proposal appeals to voters concerned about immigration and federal overreach.

  
  

What Trump Says

Trump claims the new census will be “highly accurate” and rooted in updated information, linking it to lessons learned from the 2024 presidential election. He has not specified how undocumented immigrants would be identified or excluded.