Trump's Plan to Exclude Undocumented Immigrants from Census Sparks Controversy
Introduction
President Trump has called for a "new" census that would exclude individuals without legal status from being counted. This has sparked controversy and legal challenges, as the 14th Amendment requires the "whole number of persons in each state" to be included in a key set of census results. This move could have significant implications for the population count and allocation of resources in the United States.
Key Details
The proposed census change would only count citizens and legal residents, excluding an estimated 10.5 million undocumented immigrants. This would not only impact the overall population count, but also the distribution of congressional seats and federal funding. Additionally, the decision to exclude individuals without legal status goes against the established practice of counting all individuals, regardless of their immigration status.
Impact
The exclusion of individuals without legal status from the census could have far-reaching consequences. It could lead to an inaccurate representation of the population and potentially result in underfunding for communities with high immigrant populations. It could also have a significant impact on the political landscape, as states with large immigrant populations could lose representation in Congress.
About the People Mentioned
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, is an American businessman, media personality, and politician. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1968 with a degree in economics. In 1971, he took over his family’s real estate business, renaming it the Trump Organization, through which he expanded into building and managing skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump gained widespread fame as the host of the reality TV show *The Apprentice* from 2004 to 2015, which helped establish his public persona as a successful entrepreneur. Trump entered politics as a Republican and was elected the 45th president of the United States, serving from 2017 to 2021. His presidency was marked by significant policy actions including tax cuts, deregulation, the appointment of three Supreme Court justices, renegotiation of trade agreements (notably replacing NAFTA with the USMCA), and a focus on immigration control including border wall expansion. He withdrew the U.S. from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal, and engaged in a trade war with China. His administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was criticized for downplaying the virus’s severity. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives—first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection—but was acquitted by the Senate both times. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump challenged the results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He remains a central figure in American politics, having won the 2024 presidential election and returned as the 47th president in 2025, continuing to promote policies aimed at economic growth, border security, and military strength[1][2][3][4].