This Thursday, August 7, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump instructed the Department of Commerce to initiate a new census, this time designed to not count undocumented persons, as published on his Social Truth account. The president assured that the count will be based on “modern” data and the 2024 election results.
This move represents a significant break with the tradition of counting all resident persons, regardless of immigration status, as established by the Constitution and the spirit of the decennial census.
Why does it impact the Latino community?
Political representation: The census determines how many seats each state has in the House of Representatives.
The exclusion of undocumented immigrants could reduce seats for states with large Latino populations such as California, Texas, Florida and New York.
Federal funds: The census also defines the allocation of resources for essential services.
The omission of certain individuals could affect funding for community programs.
The count will be based on 'modern data'
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Demographic context: Although it is not known how many undocumented persons live in the United States, recent estimates place the number at approximately 11 million.
Reactions and legal futures
Buzzy
Critics have called the measure a threat to democratic representation.
William Galvin, Massachusetts commonwealth clerk, called it an “illegal insanity,” warning that it violates constitutional standards for census accuracy.
Strong legislative opposition and a barrage of lawsuits are expected.
Similar attempts have been blocked by the courts in the past, and the current term could face a similar lawsuit.
Also, the initiative is part of a broader Republican strategy to redraw congressional districts before the 2026 midterm elections.
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