The Donald Trump administration has sparked significant controversy by publishing an amendment in the Federal Register that restricts the population count for House seat allocation to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, starting with the 2030 Census, and prohibits questions regarding race and ethnicity. There are growing concerns that if the amendment is finalized, it will become impossible to accurately count the population by race and ethnicity during the decennial census, thereby significantly weakening the statistical basis for minority communities\u2014including the Korean community\u2014to prove their size and influence and advocate for their rights. On the 10th, the U.S. Census Bureau published the amendment, which outlines these provisions, in the Federal Register and initiated a 30-day public comment period. The Bureau plans to review comments submitted by the 13th of next month before making a final decision on whether to finalize the amendment. One of the key aspects of the amendment is the change in population counting standards reflected in the allocation of seats in the U.S.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives. Previously, all immigrants residing in the United States were included in the count regardless of immigration status; however, the amendment stipulates that only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are included. Consequently, not only undocumented immigrants but also general visa holders with legal status who do not hold permanent residency will be excluded from the count. This is expected to have a decisive impact not only on the calculation of House seats by state but also on the amount of federal funding allocated to each state government. Furthermore, the amendment’s provision to completely remove questions regarding race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation from both the basic and census questionnaires is expected to deal a direct blow to minority communities, including Korean Americans. For years, the Korean American community has conducted campaigns every 10 years to participate in the census, accurately counting the Korean population and using the results to secure political rights and social support.<\/p>\n
However, if the amendment is finalized as is, direct counting of the Korean population through the census will become impossible, making a reduction in political and social influence inevitable. In the amendment, the Trump administration presented the argument that undocumented immigrants and others should no longer be included in the count because they lack sufficient ties and loyalty to the United States to qualify as genuine residents or those with a regular residence there. The administration asserted that undocumented immigrants cannot be regarded as genuine residents due to their insufficient bonds and loyalty to the U.S. Furthermore, it cited the administration’s intention to focus on the primary purpose of the census\u2014the allocation of parliamentary seats\u2014and its push to abolish the administration’s “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)” policy as the background. Experts and political circles are strongly opposing this.<\/p>\n
William Frey, a demographer who served as an advisor to the Census Bureau, pointed out, “The Trump administration is trying to create its own definition of who a ‘real’ American is,” adding, “This differs from the subjects the census has been counting for decades.” U.S. Senator Andy Kim (Democrat, New Jersey) also strongly criticized the amendment, stating, \u201cThis amendment is another attack on democracy,\u201d and adding, \u201cI will not tolerate attempts to suppress the voices of diverse communities and to misuse the census as a tool to attack immigrant communities.\u201d Meanwhile, while questions regarding race and ethnicity are retained in the annual American Community Survey (ACS), critics point out that because the data is merely estimates rather than a complete enumeration, it has limitations in being used as a basis for policy formulation and implementation. As the controversy intensifies, the prevailing view is that the final implementation of this amendment will be determined through legal battles. With New York Attorney General Letitia James already stating that she is considering legal action, a fierce legal battle is expected to continue in federal courts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"