Citizenship Back in the Census?

“The Justice Department said Friday it will press its search for legal grounds to force the inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 Census, hours after President Donald Trump said he is ‘very seriously’ considering an executive order to get the question on the form.” (AP News)

The left opposes adding a citizenship question due to the risk that minorities will be undercounted, and criticizes the administration for offering the courts inconsistent justifications.

“Trump has shown himself to be ignorant of what is at stake here. ‘I think it's very important to find out if somebody is a citizen as opposed to an illegal,’ he said on Monday. ‘There's a big difference to me between being a citizen of the United States and being an illegal.’ In fact, the proposed citizenship question on the census does not inquire about immigration status. It only asks if a person is a US citizen. A person who answered ‘no’ is not necessarily an undocumented immigrant -- he or she could be a green card holder or a foreign national on a work or student visa. How telling it is that Trump apparently equates all non-US citizens present in the country as ‘illegal’… The 2020 census is not Trump's census, it is our census. It is by and for the American people, and it must be carried out without further delay.” (Raul A. Reyes, CNN)

The right supports adding a citizenship question in order to understand how many non-citizens are present in the country and where they are located.

“How does one determine whether a person is an alien, or a U.S. citizen, with the entitlements and benefits that go with citizenship? By asking the question, of course…

“Proof of citizenship is required when applying for most jobs in the country. When I travel internationally and return home, there are two lines at Immigration and Customs. One is for noncitizens and the other for citizens. A form requires me to state my citizenship and show my U.S. passport. To apply for a U.S. passport I must provide proof of citizenship. In other countries, a stamp on my passport not only limits the amount of time I am allowed to stay, but also prohibits me from employment. In the UK, I can’t use the National Health Service because I am not a citizen. Other nations have a right to pass and enforce such laws. Only in America do we pass laws and then allow people to get away with ignoring them.”
(Carl Thomas, Washington Times)