Trump Calls for a New Census Excluding Undocumented Immigrants

Former President Donald Trump has again proposed the idea of conducting a new Census that excludes undocumented immigrants. This echoes his earlier efforts during his first term, where he attempted to shape the census count to omit illegal residents.

On social media, Trump announced:

“I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern-day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024. People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

However, experts note that creating a new census is a complex process requiring years of planning and staffing—it’s not something that can be initiated at a whim.

Legal experts, including Representative Jerry Nadler, emphasized that such efforts are unconstitutional. According to Nadler, the Constitution mandates a decennial census that accounts for every person residing in the U.S., regardless of immigration status. Past court rulings have already rejected similar attempts by Trump.

Additionally, research from Pew indicates that excluding undocumented immigrants from the census would have minimal effect on election outcomes or representation.