NAACP Opposes Trump Administration's Attempt to Change Census

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Chyna Fields, [email protected]

WASHINGTON - The NAACP strongly opposes the Trump administration's proposed changes to the 2030 Census, which would dramatically alter who is counted in the nation's most important population survey. The U.S. Census is a highly important, ten-year population survey that considers demographics, residential area type, age, and several other identifiers in order to capture the diverse landscape of our country. The results from the Census are used in various ways, such as, designing apportionment maps used in determining voting districts, determining federal funding for federal programs designed to address disparities, and helping to shape state and local community planning.

The Trump Administration's proposed changes would eliminate critical demographic data and exclude millions of residents from the Census count which would alter and misrepresent the various groups of people that make up the United States population. It would further disrupt many processes relating to voting, federal programming, and federal, state, and local funding.

"The census is the foundation of our democracy. Every ten years, it determines political representation, informs the distribution of federal resources, and helps ensure that communities receive the investments they deserve. An accurate census is critical to every aspect of our democracy," said Kristen Clarke, General Counsel of the NAACP. "These proposed changes would make our nation less visible, less representative, and less equitable. Efforts to exclude entire populations from the census and eliminate race and ethnicity data harm our communities and threaten to undermine decades of civil rights progress. The Constitution requires that all persons be counted, and the NAACP will continue to fight any attempt to manipulate the census for political gain."

The NAACP has been actively engaged in defending the integrity of the Census. Earlier this year, the Association filed a motion challenging efforts to exclude undocumented immigrants and certain visa holders from the population counts used to determine congressional representation and Electoral College votes, arguing that the Constitution requires that all persons living in the United States be counted.

The Trump Administration's proposal would:

• Exclude undocumented immigrants and certain noncitizens with temporary lawful status from the Census count.
• Remove demographic questions regarding race and ethnicity from the Census questionnaire.
• Eliminate the collection of key demographic information used to enforce civil rights laws, monitor discrimination, and assess disparities affecting communities of color.
• Reshape the apportionment process in ways that could alter political representation and the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding.

For more than two centuries, the Census has counted all persons residing in the United States, regardless of immigration status. The NAACP believes the proposed changes depart from longstanding constitutional principles and threaten the accuracy and integrity of the nation's population count.

The Association will continue to work with partners, advocates, and communities across the country to oppose proposals that would diminish representation, obscure racial disparities, and undermine the constitutional promise of equal representation.

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