Trump orders new census to exclude illegal immigrants from popular count

President Donald Trump announced Aug. 7 that he has ordered the Commerce Department to begin work on a new census that would exclude illegal immigrants from the population count. 

“People who are in our Country illegally WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE CENSUS,” Trump wrote in an Aug. 7 X post.

He said the new count would be based on “modern day facts and figures” and incorporate “the results and information” from the 2024 presidential election.

In an Aug. 7 FOX News interview, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said “Democrats rigged the 2020 census” by including illegal immigrants. Miler claimed that 20 to 30 House seats held by Democrats would not exist if not for their inclusion. 

Trump’s move is expected to face legal challenges. Previous attempts to alter census methodology have been blocked by courts, according to the New York Post. 

The US Constitution requires that congressional representation be based on the “whole Number of free Persons.” The Post said most scholars interpret this to include all residents, regardless of citizenship or legal status. 

The U.S. Census Bureau currently “collects data from all foreign-born who participate in its censuses and surveys, regardless of legal status,” according to its website.

Trump’s announcement comes as partisan redistricting battles intensify across the country. Several states are preparing to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. 

Republicans are pushing to secure additional House seats in red states like Texas and Missouri, and Democrats in blue states like California and New York are considering countermeasures.

In Florida, House Speaker Daniel Perez announced the formation of a new Congressional Redistricting Committee in an Aug. 7 memo to lawmakers, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Gov. Ron DeSantis has previously endorsed the move. 

According to a forecast by the American Redistricting Project, based on 2024 population estimates, Florida and Texas could each gain four House seats and electoral votes in the next apportionment. Idaho, Utah, and Arizona would each gain one. 

Meanwhile, California is projected to lose three seats. New York could lose two, and Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island are each projected to lose one.