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Rep. Meng called the decision to include an immigration-status question on the 2020 Census “deeply troubling and reckless.”
By Michael V. Cusenza
Several elected New York officials this week teed off on the Trump administration for its decision to add a question to the 2020 census that would ask respondents if they are U.S. citizens.
“A fair and accurate 2020 count is constitutionally mandated to ensure political power and resources remain with the people – where they belong,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “President Trump’s decision puts our amazing city of immigrants in jeopardy and threatens federal funding for infrastructure, health care and public safety in New York.”
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) last week questioned Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross during an Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies hearing regarding the impacts of adding such a query. On Monday, she called the decision “deeply troubling and reckless.”
“Many immigrants who are fearful of deportation under the current administration will simply choose to not participate in the census out of fear that the information they provide will be used against them,” Meng added.
The congresswoman vowed to introduce legislation to block the question.
