Trump orders Commerce Dept. to begin work on new census

[mystery-ak]

 Trump orders Commerce Dept. to begin work on new census
by Filip Timotija - 08/07/25 7:52 AM ET

President Trump said Thursday morning he has ordered the Commerce Department to begin working on a new census, emphasizing that those who are in the country illegally will not be counted in the total.

“I have instructed our Department of Commerce to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate CENSUS based on modern day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024,” Trump wrote in a Thursday morning post on Truth Social.

“People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” the president added.

The Hill has reached out to the Commerce Department for comment.

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5440548-trump-orders-new-census/

[bilo]

“People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS.

I love it!

The electoral map should not reflect illegals, as well as congressional districts. 

My representation in the House should not be diminished because my district has a near 100% American citizen population versus a district that has only a 50% American citizen population.

It is our country!

[rangerrebew]

President Trump Proposes Census Overhaul That Excludes Undocumented Immigrants from Count

The census has historically counted all residents regardless of citizenship or immigration status, as required by the 14th amendment's "whole number of persons" provision
Pedro Camacho Pedro Camacho / Published Aug 07 2025, 5:36 PM EDT
 
President Trump announced Thursday that he has ordered the U.S. Department of Commerce to conduct a new census that excludes undocumented immigrants from the official count—a move that would mark a significant departure from longstanding constitutional practice.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated the new census would rely on "modern day facts and figures" and incorporate "results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024." He emphasized, "people who are in our country illegally will not be counted."
 
The U.S. Census has, under the 14th Amendment, historically counted the "whole number of persons" residing in each state, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, as The Guardian points out. Trump's directive appears to contradict this constitutional mandate, despite no evidence of irregularities in the 2020 census.

https://www.latintimes.com/president-trump-proposes-census-overhaul-that-excludes-undocumented-immigrants-count-588114

[Fishrrman]

"The census has historically counted all residents regardless of citizenship or immigration status, as required by the 14th amendment's "whole number of persons" provision"

Once again, why the 14th amendment is the worst of them all.

Repeal EVERY one after number 12.

[mountaineer]

Cynical Publius
@CynicalPublius
Aug 8
Re: The Census

So President Trump intends to re-work the census numbers to eliminate illegal aliens from counting for representation in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College.

Democrats are screeching that this in unconstitutional.  Whenever I hear that, my first step is to go and see exactly what it is the Constitution says, and here it is, from Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution:

"Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."

I'm not going to debate the constitutionality of Trump's proposal in this post.  Instead, I wanted to highlight something that caught my eye; this part: ". . . three fifths of all other Persons."

That refers to the infamous "Three Fifths Compromise."  The Southern states wanted slaves to fully count in the census for representation purposes, and the free states did not want them to count at all.  So as a compromise, slaves were counted as 3/5ths of a person.  This gave more representation to slave states than they would have had if slaves had not been counted.

When the Constitution was approved we did not have political parties as we understand them today.  However, those slave states were the backbone of the Democrat Party that was founded in 1828.

My point?

In 1788 (when the Constitution was adopted) the proto-Democrats of the day wanted to count their powerless black slaves for purposes of political representation and power.

In 2025 Democrats want to count their powerless, indentured servant, illegal alien, sub-minimum wage Latino gardeners, maids and  nannies for purposes of political representation and power.

Nothing ever changes, least of all the deep evil that has always resided at the heart of the Democrat Party.

[bilo]

In 2025 Democrats want to count their powerless, indentured servant, illegal alien, sub-minimum wage Latino gardeners, maids and  nannies for purposes of political representation and power.

Nothing ever changes, least of all the deep evil that has always resided at the heart of the Democrat Party.

Wow

Thanks for a thoughtful post.

[Timber Rattler]

Cynical Publius
@CynicalPublius
Aug 8
Re: The Census

So President Trump intends to re-work the census numbers to eliminate illegal aliens from counting for representation in the House of Representatives and the Electoral College.

Democrats are screeching that this in unconstitutional.  Whenever I hear that, my first step is to go and see exactly what it is the Constitution says, and here it is, from Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution:

"Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."

I'm not going to debate the constitutionality of Trump's proposal in this post.  Instead, I wanted to highlight something that caught my eye; this part: ". . . three fifths of all other Persons."

That refers to the infamous "Three Fifths Compromise."  The Southern states wanted slaves to fully count in the census for representation purposes, and the free states did not want them to count at all.  So as a compromise, slaves were counted as 3/5ths of a person.  This gave more representation to slave states than they would have had if slaves had not been counted.

When the Constitution was approved we did not have political parties as we understand them today.  However, those slave states were the backbone of the Democrat Party that was founded in 1828.

My point?

In 1788 (when the Constitution was adopted) the proto-Democrats of the day wanted to count their powerless black slaves for purposes of political representation and power.

In 2025 Democrats want to count their powerless, indentured servant, illegal alien, sub-minimum wage Latino gardeners, maids and  nannies for purposes of political representation and power.

Nothing ever changes, least of all the deep evil that has always resided at the heart of the Democrat Party.

You know, that's a pretty damned good analogy, with respect to the 3/5's Clause!  The illegal aliens are in nearly the same position as the slaves were in the early 1800s.

[corbe]

   I don't begrudge Trump for hinting at doing this.  Historically in past census we didn't count Indians or counted black slaves @3/5.

   IMHO, we must count everyone but exclude those groups which are here illegally with regards to representation.   

[txradioguy]

He's been smacked down for this before.

There's a process for modifying the census and it has to go through Congress.


The Commerce Department can't make the changes.

[Timber Rattler]

He's been smacked down for this before.

There's a process for modifying the census and it has to go through Congress.


The Commerce Department can't make the changes.

Correct.  And who pays for such an undertaking?  There would have to be a congressional appropriation in place.

[txradioguy]

Correct.  And who pays for such an undertaking?  There would have to be a congressional appropriation in place.

More money out of your pocket and mine.

[bilo]

More money out of your pocket and mine.

Not as much as you might think.

If Pres. Trump wants a census strictly to determine where American citizens and legal visitors are living he can probably use social security data. He would not need lengthy forms and people going door to door.

[txradioguy]

Not as much as you might think.

If Pres. Trump wants a census strictly to determine where American citizens and legal visitors are living he can probably use social security data. He would not need lengthy forms and people going door to door.

He's doing it to affect redistricting and apportionment for Congress.  That has to go through the House...not the Commerce Department.  Anything else is just red meat for the base.