Ian Patrick, FISM News
Three federal judges in New York ruled President Trump’s directive on census-taking as unlawful after multiple states, cities, and organizations for illegal immigrants’ rights sued over the directive. In late July, Trump released a memorandum concerning the 2020 census ordering “the exclusion of illegal aliens from the apportionment base” of the census. This followed an earlier executive order issuing the government to obtain the most accurate collection of the “number of citizens, non-citizens, and illegal aliens in the country” during the census.
The panel of judges ruled that President Trump overstepped his role by issuing this memorandum and that he cannot exclude illegal immigrants from the count for congressional seat apportionment. The judges said that those who are in the country illegally still are counted as people who reside in their respective states and therefore should be counted. As the census also determines the allocation of federal funds, the judges also said that illegal aliens should still be counted for reasons that they make use of public amenities.
In the memorandum, Trump states:
For the purpose of the reapportionment of Representatives following the 2020 census, it is the policy of the United States to exclude from the apportionment base aliens who are not in a lawful immigration status under the Immigration and Nationality Act … to the maximum extent feasible and consistent with the discretion delegated to the executive branch. Excluding these illegal aliens from the apportionment base is more consonant with the principles of representative democracy underpinning our system of Government. … I have accordingly determined that respect for the law and protection of the integrity of the democratic process warrant the exclusion of illegal aliens from the apportionment base, to the extent feasible and to the maximum extent of the President’s discretion under the law.
The case could be appealed to the Supreme Court, but no action has been taken in that direction as of yet.
Sourced from The White House, AP, and Reuters.