Change of census rule could cost Arizonans

A last-minute decision by the Trump administration to reinstate a citizenship question in the 2020 census could hurt Arizona more than most states because of its large immigrant population.

Immigrant households in Arizona are already wary of taking part in the census, critics say, the result of the state’s efforts to drive out undocumented immigrants through laws such as Senate Bill 1070 and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s worksite raids and neighborhood sweeps.

The federal government inquiring about citizenship status as part of its official decennial count could further

dissuade immigrants from participating, leading to a sizable undercount of the state’s population.

The consequences could be significant and lasting.

Census population data is used to determine the number of House seats apportioned to each state, as well as corresponding electoral votes in presidential elections. Arizona has gained at least one House seat in Congress following each census since 1960, because the state has gained population relative to other states. Failing to fully count the population in a fast-growing state like Arizona would hurt the state’s chances at an additional seat in Congress.

An undercount could also cost the state federal funding distributed based on census data for programs such as Medicare, Title 1 school funding, highway construction and lower-incomehousing subsidies. Arizona receives about $13.5 billion annually in federal census-driven funding.

“Arizona is one of the states that could be particularly affected with the citizenship question, given its recent history with how immigrants have been treated there by government agencies,” said Arturo Vargas, executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. “I’m referring, of course, to the Maricopa County Sheriff ’s Office, but also actions that the Legislature has taken to create a hostile environment towards immigrants.”

‘I would be afraid’

The Commerce Department, which oversees the U.S. Census Bureau, announced Monday that it was adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census for the first time in 70 years. The Commerce Department noted that prior to 1950, a citizenship question was routinely included and said the decision to reinstate it was made at the request of the Justice Department.

The Justice Department argues citizenship data is needed to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, which is intended to protect minority voters from discrimination.

Though Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross acknowledged concerns that a citizenship question could exacerbate undercounts in minority communities, the department after a review concluded that “the Census Bureau’s analysis did not provide definitive, empirical support

“I would be afraid it could be a way of collecting information to conduct immigration roundups.” Lucia Mexican immigrant and Tempe resident without legal status, on citizenship question on census form

for that belief.”

But Lucia, a 40 year-old Mexican immigrant without legal status, said she would be reluctant to fill out a census form that includes a question about citizenship.

The Tempe resident has lived in the U.S. for 14 years and has four children. Two are U.S. citizens, one is undocumented, and another is temporarily protected from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which Trump is trying to end.

“I would be afraid it could be a way of collecting information to conduct immigration roundups,” said Lucia, who asked that her full name not be published because of her immigration status.

Could hurt red states, too

Critics contend the decision to include a citizenship question is a politically motivated ruse by the Trump administration to undercount minorities in Democratic states with large immigrant populations, such as California and New York, causing them to lose federal funding and political clout.

The attorney general in California immediately filed a lawsuit to prevent inclusion of the citizenship question in the 2020 census. The attorney general in New York is leading a similar multistate lawsuit. All the attorneys general taking legal action are Democrats.

Gov. Doug Ducey, through a spokesman, declined to comment on the matter.

Republican states that voted for Trump and have fast-growing immigrant populations also stand to lose out if the citizenship question leads to an undercount, said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, an advocacy group.

“He’s hanging his voters out to dry in his effort to hurt California. My guess on this is that the administration thought they could lessen the political influence of places like California and New York, places that have long-standing immigration populations. But their assumptions are wrong,” Noorani said. “It’s actually the places with the fastest-growing immigration populations that need See CENSUS, Page 21A