05/02/2026
Donald Trump and Stephen Miller are pushing to exclude undocumented immigrants from census counts used to decide congressional representation. They argue that only citizens should be included when determining how House seats are distributed.
Supporters of this idea say some states, including California and New York, gain additional seats because total population counts include undocumented residents. They believe changing this could shift political balance in Congress.
Others strongly disagree, arguing that the census has historically counted all residents, regardless of immigration status, and that changing this approach could affect representation and federal funding.
The debate has also reached the courts, with Missouri taking legal action to challenge current practices. The issue continues to spark strong reactions across the political spectrum.