TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Gov. Ron DeSantis has proposed the idea of conducting a census count mid-decade. He made this announcement on Wednesday during an education roundtable held in Tampa.
“They agree that this census was flawed,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis said he and Trump administration Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are on the same page about the 2020 census.
“I don’t believe illegal aliens should be counted in the census. I think it’s wrong. I think it’s unconstitutional,” DeSantis said.
Since 1790, both citizens and non-citizens have been counted to determine each state’s representation in Congress, as well as to decide federal funding allocations.
Back in 2019, the United States Supreme Court told the Trump administration that it couldn’t include a citizenship question in the census. Last year, Republicans in the House passed a bill in an attempt to stop non-citizens from being counted. This legislation has also been reintroduced in the Senate, where Sen. Rick Scott is a co-sponsor.
Consultant Steve Jost from The Census Project refers to Article 2 of the 14th Amendment. He stated that this initiative by the GOP contradicts established law.
“The authors of this legislation that you’re referencing are proposing something that’s against the constitution,” Jost said.
The Constitution’s language regarding the census states: “Counting the whole number of persons in each state.” Republicans, like Rep. Chuck Edwards from Western North Carolina, argue that “persons” is undefined and claim some states are rewarded for violating federal immigration law. However, advocates maintain that the language is explicit.
Jost also said it takes years to plan a census count. For instance, planning for 2030 started 12 years ago.
“It’s unheard of to think you can conduct a census on a one- or two-year notice,” Jost said.
DeSantis anticipates that the Supreme Court will eventually need to decide if non-citizens can be excluded from influencing the apportionment of representatives on Capitol Hill.
