No Citizenship Question on the 2020 Census BUT....
Today is Friday, July 12, 2019. Last week, I did A Quick Comparison between the USCIS N-400 and 2020 Census Form. This week I will give a quick update about the 2020 Census Form Citizenship Question.
This past week, people closely followed the news about the 2020 Census. They wanted to know if the 2020 Census would include a Citizenship Question. The answer to this question seemed to change every hour.
President Trump wanted to have a Citizenship Question on the 2020 Census. He said that the Citizenship Question would protect voting rights.
The federal courts disagreed that the Citizenship Question would protect voting rights. The courts reviewed what the Constitution said about the Census, state representation, and voting rights. Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution says that Congress must count all people living in the United States every 10 years. The number of a state's representatives is based on the number of people--not citizens--who live in the state. If some people are not counted, states would lose members in the House of Representatives, plus government money for public services.
Also, many people oppose the Citizenship Question on the 2020 Census. They think that every person must be counted in the 2020 Census. They contacted their Senators and Representatives by phone, email, or Twitter. Some people said that they would not answer the Citizenship Question because they are not legal residents or live with people who are undocumented. There are afraid of being deported.
On Thursday, July 11, 2019, President Trump that the 2020 Census will not have the Citizenship Question BUT he issued an executive order for federal agencies to collect and share people's citizenship information. Trump said that the Citizenship information will show us how immigration changes America. The citizenship information will help us make stronger immigration laws and give public services. Trump's executive order wants states to draw voting districts based on number of eligible voters (citizens) instead of total number of people (citizens, legal residents, and undocumented), which many people say will give more power to Republicans & Non-Hispanic Whites voters and may take away the voting power of Democrats, Hispanic, African-American, and other minority voters.
While people are still taking about what Trump's executive order, communities are preparing for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids this weekend. All undocumented immigrants can be arrested and deported, not just immigrants who have committed crimes. Sometimes, U.S. citizens are arrested during ICE raids.
Remember, NEVER LIE ABOUT YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS!
All people--citizens and non-citizens--have rights under the US Constitution.
- DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR if an immigration agent is knocking on the door.
- DO NOT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS from an immigration agent if they try to talk to you. You have the right to remain silent.
- DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer.
- If you are outside of your home, ask the agent if you are free to leave and if they say yes, leave calmly.
For more info about your rights in many languages, go to: https://www.informedimmigrant.com/resources/ilrc-red-cards/
Stay safe.
POP QUIZ
Listen to this podcast to find the answer to the following five questions:
1. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?
2. What does the judicial branch do?
3. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.
4. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?
5. What are the two major political parties in the United States?*
6. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?
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