House Passes Bill to Include Citizenship Question on Census, Sparking Fierce Debate
Exclusive Report
The House of Representatives ignited a highly contentious debate by passing a bill that would require a citizenship question to be included in the upcoming U.S. census. The legislation, entitled the Equal Representation Act, is spearheaded by Representative Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.).
Zero Democratic Support
The bill garnered overwhelming support from Republicans, with all 206 members voting in favor. However, every single Democrat present (202) voted against it, highlighting the deep partisan divide on the issue.
Exclusion from Population Count
In addition to adding the citizenship question, the bill would also exclude non-citizens from the population count when determining the number of House representatives each state receives and the number of electoral votes for all 50 states.
Republican Justification
Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to ensure fair representation and prevent illegal immigrants from wielding undue influence in elections. “If you are an illegal immigrant, you should not be represented in the U.S. Congress,” stated Representative Tom Emmer (R-Minn.). They contend that the influx of illegal immigrants under President Biden’s watch has distorted the census results, leading to states with high illegal immigrant populations gaining unfair advantages.
Democratic Concerns
Democrats vehemently oppose the measure, arguing that it would disenfranchise millions of legal immigrants and permanent residents who contribute to society but are not yet U.S. citizens. They assert that excluding such individuals from the census would skew the results, undermining the accuracy and fairness of the count.
Threat to Representation and Voter Suppression
Critics also accuse Republicans of using the citizenship question as a pretext to suppress the votes of minority communities, who are more likely to have immigrant populations. They argue that by excluding non-citizens from the census, these communities will have less representation in government, undermining their rights.
A Repeat of the Past
The effort to include a citizenship question on the census is not new. Former President Trump attempted to add it to the 2020 census, but the Supreme Court blocked the move. The current bill faces similar legal challenges, with many experts predicting that it will also strike it down due to constitutional concerns.
Echoes of Past Debates
The debate over the citizenship question has deep historical roots in U.S. history. Similar proposals have been advanced and challenged throughout the years, reflecting the country’s ongoing discussions about immigration, citizenship, and the rights of non-citizens.
Still to Come: A Bumpy Road Ahead
The passage of the Equal Representation Act in the House is just the first step in a long legislative process. The bill still needs to be considered by the Senate, where it faces an uncertain fate given its partisan nature and the likely opposition from Democrats. Even if it makes it through Congress, it may face legal challenges and the potential for a presidential veto. The issue is likely to continue to spark intense debate and controversy in the months and years to come.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
