Trump Administration Proposes Excluding Noncitizens From 2030 Census

The Donald Trump administration proposed a sweeping overhaul of the 2030 U.S. census on September 10, 2026, seeking to exclude undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, and noncitizens without green cards from the population count used for congressional apportionment and Electoral College votes. The proposal, published in the Federal Register, argues that these individuals lack a "sufficient tie and allegiance to the United States" to be considered true inhabitants.

Beyond changing who is counted, the administration proposes eliminating questions regarding race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, asserting the process should be "colorblind." The plan also suggests adding a citizenship question, with responses potentially cross-referenced against Department of Homeland Security and Treasury records. These changes could remove between 11 and 15 million people from the count, primarily impacting states with large immigrant populations such as California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

Critics, including House Oversight Committee Democrats and civil rights advocates, argue the move violates the 14th Amendment's requirement to count the "whole number of persons." New York Attorney General Letitia James announced her office is exploring legal options to challenge the proposal. Opponents warn the changes would dilute political representation in immigrant-heavy areas and hinder the allocation of federal funding for public health and disaster response. The proposal is open for public comment for 30 days.