Suit filed to strike census question
Critics worry that asking about citizenship on the upcoming survey could discourage people from participating
Following the lead of San Francisco and other cities across the country, San Jose has filed its own lawsuit to prevent the Trump administration from adding a question about citizenship on the 2020 census, saying it will deter participation and cost the city valuable funding.
“Adding a citizenship question to the 2020 Census will stoke fears… in diverse cities like San Jose, threatening hundreds of millions in funding for health, education, and other critical services upon which our entire community depends,” Mayor Sam Liccardo said in a statement announcing the suit Tuesday morning.
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced in March it would include a citizenship question, maintaining it would help paint a better picture of how many people in a given congressional district population are eligible to vote. But critics fear the move could deter non-citizens from participating, which could lead to undercounting in San Jose and elsewhere.
“Full participation in the census is extremely important to our city, because the data collected is used to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities and also determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives,” Councilmember Dev Davis said in a statement.
San Jose, where nearly 40 percent of adults were born in another country, estimates that about 70,000 residents of the city weren’t counted during the 2010 census. Ultimately, that will result in a $200 million shortfall over a
decade in funding for needs like Medicaid, education and low-income housing, Liccardo said Tuesday.
“We want to demonstrate to the rest of the country how immigration and multiculturalism works and works well in a city,” Liccardo said.
California filed its own suit in March on the citizenship question. Other states also filed similar suits.
San Jose’s suit is being handled at no cost to the city by the law firm Manatt, Phelps, and Phillips, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
San Jose plans to partner with several community groups and use new text messaging and mapping tools to try to encourage people to participate, including those who live in nontraditional housing scenarios.
“Including a citizenship question on the 2020 census is another attempt to instill fear in our local community and short-change the residents of San Jose,” Vice Mayor Magdalena Carrasco said in a statement. “We have a very clear and simple message for President Trump: The City of San Jose stands united against your constant barrage of divisive tactics. We will ensure that every resident is accurately counted.”