January 17, 2019

On Tuesday, January 15th, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled against the Trump administration’s decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. While an important vote in favor of the integrity of the Census has been cast, the fight is far from over. The Trump administration is fighting five more lawsuits across the country by groups that want the citizenship question removed, and the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear oral arguments relating to the question in a hearing scheduled for February 19.

Last year, we warned of the danger posed by the citizenship question possibly being included on the Census. Furman’s decision is an important step toward protecting against those dangers on behalf of those who may be affected. The census plays an important role in documenting the demographic layout of the country, informing government apportionment of funds and also the drawing of congressional district maps. In light of the Trump administration’s demonstrated animus toward immigrant communities, the inclusion of a citizenship question might disincentivize participation in this vital questionnaire and consequently harm those communities most in need of consideration.

Founded in 1988, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is a national nonprofit working to promote and strengthen American pluralism by increasing understanding and improving policies that impact American Muslims.