On Tuesday, 17 states, led by New York, plus seven cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors filed suit to block the Census Bureau and Commerce Department from including a question about respondents' citizenship on the 2020 census. Texas is not among the motley group of states in the suit — which includes Iowa and North Carolina as well as Massachusetts and Oregon — and it did not file its own lawsuit like California did. But Texas has a lot to lose from adding a citizenship question to the census, as The Texas Tribune explains:
An accurate census is critical to the state. It is used to determine how many representatives Texas is entitled to elect to Congress. And the Texas Legislature and local governments rely on the data to redraw corresponding political boundaries. ... Almost 5 million immigrants live in the state, and it's estimated that about two-thirds are noncitizens — legal permanent residents, immigrants with another form of legal status, or undocumented immigrants. Additionally, more than 1 million Texans who are U.S. citizens live with at least one family member who is undocumented. ...The repercussions of an immigrant undercount in Texas could go as far as curtailing the state's projected gain of three congressional seats in Congress. Texas Hispanics — who make up a majority of the state's immigrant population — were behind 65 percent of the population growth that helped Texas gain four seats after the 2010 Census. Almost 700,000 immigrants — just about the number of people living in each congressional district — reside in Houston, where officials are worried about reaching immigrants who are "unsettled by recent actions and recent rhetoric." [The Texas Tribune]
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 10, 2024Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - civic duty, uncertain waters, and more
-
5 ladylike cartoons about women's role in the electionCartoons Artists take on the political gender gap, Lady Liberty, and more
-
The right to die: what can we learn from other countries?The Explainer A look at the world's assisted dying laws as MPs debate Kim Leadbeater's proposed bill
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asksSpeed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspectsSpeed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
-
Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's returnSpeed Read Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'
-
Abortion rights measures go 7 for 10Speed Read Constitutional amendments to protect abortion passed in seven states but failed in three others: Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota
-
Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking protestsSpeed Read Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu have clashed for years. The Israeli prime minister first tried to fire the defense minister in 2023, but backed off following a public outcry.
-
Trump wins, GOP flips Senate, House a tossupSpeed Read The Republican candidate flipped back the swing states he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020
-
Supreme Court to resolve Louisiana gerrymanderSpeed Read The court will hear a case challenging the second majority-Black district in the state
-
Russia accused of election agitation, firebomb plotSpeed Read European officials accused Russian operatives of plotting to smuggle incendiary devices aboard planes bound for the US
