California to sue Trump admin over citizenship question in 2020 census

[Dashinka 24,767]

I wonder what law is being broken?

 

 

California on Monday promised to sue the Trump administration over its decision to ask the 2020 census respondents if they are citizens of the United States.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced the suit against the administration late Monday on Twitter, saying the measure would be unlawful.

“Filing suit against @realdonaldtrump's Administration over decision to add #citizenship question on #2020Census. Including the question is not just a bad idea — it is illegal,” Becerra wrote.

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/27/california-to-sue-trump-admin-over-citizenship-question-in-2020-census.html

[Dashinka 24,767]

Seems to be a bit more in the news about this.  Not really sure why asking the citizenship question is unlawful, but it seems logical to ask.

[RLA 324]

1 hour ago, Bill & Katya said:

Not really sure why asking the citizenship question is unlawful.

It seems that CA's argument is that asking for citizen status would scare some of the non-citizens.  CA fears that some of the non-citizens would not respond to the census, thus distorting the census and defeating its legal purpose.  Seems a bit stretched if you ask me.  

 

I think asking for citizen status make sense, but it'd certainly be worthwhile to put in some reassurances that people's census responses will not be used against them.  

[Dashinka 24,767]

10 minutes ago, RLA said:

It seems that CA's argument is that asking for citizen status would scare some of the non-citizens.  CA fears that some of the non-citizens would not respond to the census, thus distorting the census and defeating its legal purpose.  Seems a bit stretched if you ask me.  

 

I think asking for citizen status make sense, but it'd certainly be worthwhile to put in some reassurances that people's census responses will not be used against them.  

I agree, but to me that it is up to the legal or illegal alien to answer the census.  From what I understand, the census is to allocate federal representation to the citizenry.

[RLA 324]

42 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

From what I understand, the census is to allocate federal representation to the citizenry.

It'd make sense to tie federal representation to the number of citizens, but you could just as well use the number of people eligible to vote (excluding minors, felons, etc.) or even just the number of registered voters.  The Constitution actually ties it "to the whole Number of free Persons" whatever that's supposed to mean.  I think you could also include LPRs in that "whole Number" to avoid taxation without representation.  

[Dashinka 24,767]

7 minutes ago, RLA said:

It'd make sense to tie federal representation to the number of citizens, but you could just as well use the number of people eligible to vote (excluding minors, felons, etc.) or even just the number of registered voters.  The Constitution actually ties it "to the whole Number of free Persons" whatever that's supposed to mean.  I think you could also include LPRs in that "whole Number" to avoid taxation without representation.  

That makes sense, but how does asking the question make a difference?  How can anyone prove that this will lead to an undercount?

[OriZ 3,157]

lol ridiculousness. Didn't seem to be a major issue in the first half of the last century, not sure why it is now? Now they're even scared of questions. It is a simple QUESTION. 

[bcking 3,157]

I always support information and data so I see no problem with this.

 

I guess I can kind of see California's concern (people may not respond), but I don't see how that makes it illegal. It may make the census less effective (but then that depends on what the point of the census is, as people are discussing here). However I think that could also be combated with education, and a written statement on the census affirming that the information is anonymous and can't be used against you.

[RLA 324]

5 minutes ago, OriZ said:

Now they're even scared of questions. It is a simple QUESTION. 

Some people are opposed to gun registers for fear that the government might one day use that against gun owners.  I think a similar fear might be at play with the citizenship question, that it might be a prelude to round up non-citizens and deport them.  The political climate being as hysterical as it is I guess there are people who do fear that kind of scenario.  

[OriZ 3,157]

Sorry I don't see a citizenship question as being the same as gun registers. 

[RLA 324]

6 minutes ago, bcking said:

I don't see how that makes it illegal. It may make the census less effective (but then that depends on what the point of the census is, as people are discussing here).

The point of the census is the Constitution.  You could argue that a distorted census would be unconstitutional, for example if the census forms were in Latin so that people without a classical education wouldn't be able to respond.  

[RLA 324]

9 minutes ago, OriZ said:

Sorry I don't see a citizenship question as being the same as gun registers. 

So how are they different in your opinion? 

 

Anyway, the commonality is that some people fear that the government is going to misuse that information, so they'd rather that the government wouldn't even collect that information.  

Edited March 29, 2018 by RLA

[spookyturtle 9,466]

25 minutes ago, OriZ said:

Sorry I don't see a citizenship question as being the same as gun registers. 

Ask the Japanese that we’re put in camps during WWII when the US used census data. 

[Dashinka 24,767]

3 minutes ago, spookyturtle said:

Ask the Japanese that we’re put in camps during WWII when the US used census data. 

Not really sure that is a valid comparison.  Weren't the Japanese that FDR rounded up Citizens, or LPRs? 

[spookyturtle 9,466]

2 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

Not really sure that is a valid comparison.  Weren't the Japanese that FDR rounded up Citizens, or LPRs? 

It was meant to show that the US used data to round up citizens, so the precedent has been set that the same could happen with gun register data. Poorly worded response on my part. 

 

I have have no doubt illegals will avoid the census no matter what, maybe more so with the citizenship question. But like with all census questions, one need not answer. I suggest taking the exam and working for a segment on the 2020 Census. I did for the 2010 Census. It’s a real eye opener.