3-Judge Panel Rejects Trump Administration’s Attempt to End 2020 Census Before October 31

3-Judge Panel Rejects Trump Administration’s Attempt to End 2020 Census Before October 31

US President Donald Trump speaks at a press conference in the East Room of the White House alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel. – Washington, DC – April 27, 2018 (Shutterstock)

New York, NY—On Wednesday afternoon, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit rejected the Trump administration’s appeal for a stay on Judge Koh’s order that the headcount for the 2020 Census continues through October 31, while allowing the Census Bureau to continue to try to meet a December 31, 2020, statutory reporting deadline. The Trump administration has previously signaled that it will next ask the Supreme Court for a stay.

In response to the three-judge panel’s ruling, Meeta Anand, the Census 2020 Senior Fellow for the New York Immigration Coalition, issued the following statement.

“Today’s ruling marks the third time in as many weeks that advocates defeated the Trump administration’s single-minded drive to end the 2020 Census early. Of course, this White House refuses to back down and is now looking to the Supreme Court to allow them to cut the Census count short. To beat back this White House, Congress must move to extend both statutory reporting deadlines so that the Census Bureau does not shortchange quality controls and to ensure the most accurate data possible for redistricting. Here in New York, we must match the Trump administration’s persistence with the determination to use every precious minute, hour, day, and week to ensure all New Yorkers—regardless of legal status, age, or country of origin—are counted. At stake are trillions of federal dollars and political representation for millions of us, and particularly our most vulnerable communities. New Yorkers will need these resources and political power to beat back the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild an economy reflective of our vibrant and diverse communities.”

Four Fast Facts About the 2020 Census

  • The 2020 Census will end on October 31. You can respond online to be counted here: my2020census.govCensus door-knockers are still conducting interviews of New York households that did not self-respond. If someone knocks on your door and says that they are a Census worker, ask to see their ID, and know that you are safe to share information about your household size, race, address, and the names of those residing with you with them for the purposes of the 2020 Census. There is no reason they should require your social security number or any other similar identifying information. Sample questions from the 2020 Census are here: https://2020census.gov/en/about-questions.html
  • By law, the U.S. government is constitutionally required to count the number of people living in the United States every 10 years. The Census is critically important in determining how billions of dollars of federal dollars are allocated to states for local schools, hospitals, libraries, businesses, and more, as well as for ensuring New York’s representation in Congress. All New Yorkers from all backgrounds, regardless of immigration status, must be counted—this includes children, seniors, people who are homeless or undocumented, and people of all nationalities.
  • The Census is safe, secure, and confidential. No individual’s data can be shared with any other government agencies by law—and that includes no data sharing is allowed with the Department of Homeland Security. 
  • There is no citizenship question on the 2020 Census. The New York Immigration Coalition and allies fought the Trump administration all the way to the Supreme Court to block the blatant attempt to politicize the Census with a citizenship question. 

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