On August 7, 2025, President Donald Trump directed the Department of Commerce to conduct a new U.S. census that excludes non-citizens from congressional apportionment. Announced via Truth Social, the move targets the estimated 18.6 million illegal immigrants whose inclusion in past counts has inflated political power in states with large non-citizen populations. By counting only U.S. citizens, the administration aims to align representation with those legally eligible to vote.
Restoring Balance in Congress
Past censuses have counted millions of non-citizens, shifting congressional seats away from states with fewer illegal immigrants. In 2020, the inclusion of about 12 million non-citizens helped states like California gain as many as 11 seats, while Ohio, Alabama, and Michigan lost representation. Trump’s directive seeks to reverse these shifts, ensuring the 435 House seats are distributed solely based on the citizen population.
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Ending Sanctuary State Advantages
Sanctuary states have benefited politically by counting illegal immigrants in the census. California alone is estimated to have gained at least three extra House seats in 2020 due to its large illegal immigrant population. States like Idaho and West Virginia, with fewer non-citizens, lost seats as a result. Excluding non-citizens would end this advantage and discourage policies that protect illegal immigrants for political gain.
Protecting Electoral Integrity
Supporters argue that removing non-citizens from the census safeguards the Electoral College and congressional representation from foreign influence. The American Community Survey estimates 22.6 million non-citizens live in the U.S., whose inclusion has reshaped about 30 House seats. Lawmakers such as Sen. Bill Hagerty and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene back the policy, calling it a necessary step to ensure only American voters shape the nation’s political future.
