WHAT HAPPENED: The Trump administration is seeking to redefine who is included in the population count used to determine congressional representation in the 2030 census, potentially excluding millions of illegal immigrants and reducing the number of lawmakers from Democrat-led states with large illegal populations. The new Census Bureau proposal would classify illegal immigrants as ineligible for inclusion in the state population totals used to apportion the 435 seats in the House of Representatives, and also potentially exclude certain legal immigrants who lack permanent resident status.
FLASHBACK: During the first Trump administration, efforts to exclude illegal immigrants from the 2020 census faced legal challenges and were ultimately halted by the subsequent Biden government. This new proposal revives and expands the first Trump administration’s efforts.