With their decision expected in June on whether to allow the Department of Commerce to insert a citizenship question in next year's census survey, the US Supreme Court appears to be leaning in favor of the Trump administration's citizenship argument, move that has congressional Democrats and immigration activists crying voter suppression.
Democrats contend that by posting the question on the ballot, many illegal immigrants would not participate in the 2020 census, and the final population count would not be accurate.
Enumeration Clause of the Constitution states that Congress must count or conduct an “actual enumeration” of the entire population of the United States, including those individuals who lack U.S. citizenship.
National Democrats like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) and 2020 presidential candidate Julian Castro, are taken back by the possible insertion of the question to the census, calling the act a violation of the law.
Castro went as far to say that the citizenship question is nothing more than “an act of political intimidation” against Hispanics.
“This question, especially from this administration, which has been so hostile to immigrants, and also in many ways the Latino community, is meant as an act of political intimidation,” Castro said. “This will make it much less likely that we’ll get full and complete answers from so many people.”
Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom Perez recently stated that Republicans were “working to suppress the vote,” but that Democrats were “fighting to remove barriers to the ballot box so every American can have a voice.”
“The citizenship question Trump is trying to put on the U.S. census is unlawful, intrusive, and politically-motivated. This is a blatant attempt to deter immigrant communities from participating,’ said Perez.
