(UNITED STATES) President Donald Trump has ordered the Commerce Department to start work on a new census that will not count people living in the U.S. illegally for congressional apportionment and the Electoral College. This move, announced on August 7, 2025, marks a major change in how the United States 🇺🇸 counts its population for political representation and federal funding.
What’s Happening and Why Now?
President Trump’s directive tells the Commerce Department and Census Bureau to create a new way to count the population, leaving out undocumented immigrants. He said, “people in the U.S. illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED” for deciding how many seats each state gets in the House of Representatives and how electoral votes are divided for presidential elections. This policy is already causing strong reactions across the country.
Key Developments and Immediate Actions
- August 7, 2025: President Trump’s public order starts the process for a new census that excludes undocumented immigrants.
- Legislation: The “Equal Representation Act” was re-introduced in the Senate in June 2025. This bill would require a citizenship question on the census and count only citizens for redistricting and the Electoral College.
- State Actions: States like Texas and Florida are moving toward using citizen-only counts for redistricting. Meanwhile, states such as California are looking for ways to protect their representation.
- Federal Response: The Commerce Department and Census Bureau are developing new methods to identify and exclude people in the U.S. illegally from the count.
How Will This Work?
The new census approach is still being designed. The plan is to use government records to figure out who is a citizen and who is not. This could mean checking information from different federal and state agencies. Experts warn that this process will be very hard and could lead to mistakes, since it is difficult to know everyone’s immigration status with complete accuracy.
Legal and Political Challenges
Many civil rights groups, Democratic leaders, and some state governments say this policy is unconstitutional. The U.S. Constitution says all “persons” living in the country should be counted for apportionment, not just citizens. Lawsuits are already being prepared, and the issue is expected to go to the Supreme Court. There could be delays or even blocks to the new policy depending on what the courts decide.
Who Is Affected and How?
- States with Large Immigrant Populations: According to the Office of Homeland Security Statistics, California has about 2.6 million undocumented immigrants, and Texas has just over 2 million. Other states with large numbers include Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington, and Arizona.
- Political Representation: If undocumented immigrants are not counted, states with many immigrants—mostly Democratic-leaning—could lose seats in Congress and electoral votes. States with fewer undocumented immigrants could gain more power.
- Federal Funding: Many federal programs use census data to decide how much money states get. Excluding people in the U.S. illegally could mean less funding for schools, hospitals, and other services in states with large immigrant communities.
What Are People Saying?
- President Donald Trump: “It is unconscionable that illegal immigrants and non-citizens are counted toward congressional district apportionment and our electoral map for the presidency, which also heavily skews the seat count in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
- Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN): Supports the Equal Representation Act, saying it’s needed for fair representation.
- Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA): “Most Americans would be surprised to learn that states with more illegal immigrants are awarded greater representation in Congress as a result. Addressing this perverse feature of reapportionment needs to be part of any discussion about redistricting reform going forward.”
- Democratic Leaders and Civil Rights Groups: Strongly oppose the move, saying it will undercount vulnerable groups and is against the Constitution.
How Will the Process Unfold?
- ✅ Census Design: The Commerce Department and Census Bureau will create new ways to count only citizens, using government records to estimate who is in the U.S. illegally.
- ✅ Data Release: States will get new apportionment data based on these counts, but only if the courts allow it.
- ✅ Redistricting: State governments and commissions will redraw congressional and state legislative districts using the new data, if the policy stands.
The ‘Equal Representation Act’ was re-introduced in the Senate.
President Trump’s public order starts the process for a new census that excludes undocumented immigrants.
States like Texas and Florida begin moving toward using citizen-only counts for redistricting.
The Commerce Department and Census Bureau start developing new methods to identify and exclude undocumented immigrants.
Legal battles expected as lawsuits are prepared against the new policy.
Practical Effects and Real-World Examples
If this policy goes forward, states like California and New York could lose seats in Congress. This would mean less voice for their residents in national decisions. Federal funding for things like schools and health care could also drop, hurting both citizens and legal residents in those states. The policy could also make the political fight over redistricting even more heated, with both parties battling over how districts are drawn.
Expert Opinions and Analysis
Supporters, mostly Republicans, say counting only citizens is fair and stops states with many undocumented immigrants from getting more political power. They argue that the current system “artificially inflates” representation for some states. Opponents, including Democrats, civil rights groups, and some data experts, warn that the policy is unconstitutional and will lead to an inaccurate census. They also say it will hurt communities by reducing their representation and funding.
Statistical experts point out that it is very hard to accurately identify who is in the U.S. illegally using government records. Mistakes could mean some citizens are wrongly left out, while some undocumented immigrants are still counted.
Historical Background
The U.S. Constitution requires a count of all “persons” every ten years for apportionment. For over 200 years, this has included everyone living in the United States 🇺🇸, no matter their citizenship or immigration status. President Trump’s earlier attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census was blocked by the Supreme Court. This new order is a more direct effort to change how the census is used for political representation.
What Happens Next?
- Legal Battles: Lawsuits are expected, and the Supreme Court will likely decide if the new policy is allowed.
- State Responses: Some states may do their own counts or challenge the federal data.
- Possible Delays: The fight over the new census could slow down redistricting and the distribution of federal funds.
Where to Find More Information
For official updates on the census and related policies, visit the U.S. Census Bureau website. This site provides the latest news on census methods, data releases, and legal developments.
Conclusion and Practical Guidance
President Donald Trump’s order for a new census that excludes people in the U.S. illegally is already changing the national conversation about immigration, representation, and fairness. States, lawmakers, and communities are preparing for a long legal and political fight. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the outcome will affect not just undocumented immigrants, but millions of citizens and legal residents whose representation and funding depend on the census. People concerned about these changes should follow updates from official sources, contact their representatives, and consider how redistricting and funding shifts could impact their communities.
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