Jayapal Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Census Citizenship Question

“The Census is an American institution and a critical tool that helps us understand who we are and what we need to thrive. Its purpose is to count every single person in America — a count that impacts and informs how we distribute resources and representation in Congress — and it depends entirely on people’s full participation,” said Rep. Jayapal.

“The Supreme Court found that the Trump administration used a “contrived” justification to completely retool the Census. Although the Supreme Court’s decision is an important temporary victory, our fight is far from over. While the Court stopped the Trump administration from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, the court has given the Commerce Department an opportunity to try again in the future. As this issue goes back to the lower courts, I strongly urge the Census Bureau to cease any future efforts to add a citizenship question to the Census. Instead, we must continue to reassure these communities that their participation in the Census is safe and necessary. Everyone must be counted. What’s more, we must demand accountability from the Trump administration. It is appalling that the Supreme Court was forced to intervene and stop an agency from using false pretenses as a “distraction” under “unusual circumstances” to change a fundamental tool of our democracy,” Rep Jayapal concluded.

Issues: Immigration