President Trump Orders 'New' Census That Excludes Undocumented Immigrants

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday (August 7) that he has directed the Department of Commerce to conduct a new U.S. census that will exclude undocumented immigrants. In a post on Truth Social, President Trump stated, "People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS." This move represents a significant departure from traditional census practices, which have historically included all residents regardless of immigration status.

The announcement arrives amidst pressure from the White House for Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps, potentially strengthening the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The U.S. Constitution mandates a national census every ten years to determine congressional representation, aiming to count every resident in the country.

President Trump previously attempted to modify the 2020 Census by introducing a citizenship question, but the Supreme Court blocked this effort. He then sought to gather citizen data through government records instead of direct census polling.

As the new census plan unfolds, it is likely to face legal challenges and debates over its constitutional implications. The impact on congressional representation and federal resource allocation remains to be seen.