Overview

• President Trump directed the Commerce Department to begin a new census excluding undocumented immigrants, announcing the order on Truth Social on August 7.
• It contradicts the constitutional mandate to conduct a once-a-decade headcount of all residents for congressional apportionment.
• Legal scholars point to past Supreme Court decisions that blocked citizenship questions and argue that only Congress can redefine who is counted.
• Republican strategists link the new census to state-level redistricting efforts aimed at boosting GOP representation ahead of the 2026 midterms.
• Pew Research Center estimates suggest excluding noncitizens would deprive states like California, Florida and Texas of at least one House seat each and alter federal funding distribution.