UPDATE: 2020 Census Started Printing, Sans Citizenship Question, But Trump Administration Won't Let It Go
Update: June 3, 2019, 6:05 ET:
President Trump tweeted that his administration is “absolutely moving forward” on the citizenship question, despite statements from both his Department of Justice and his secretary of commerce that the administration was printing the census without the question.
The News Reports about the Department of Commerce dropping its quest to put the Citizenship Question on the Census is incorrect or, to state it differently, FAKE! We are absolutely moving forward, as we must, because of the importance of the answer to this question.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019
On Wednesday (July 3), according to CNN, Justice Department officials told a Maryland federal judge that they have been "instructed to examine whether there is a path forward consistent with the Supreme Court's decision, that would allow us to include the citizenship question on the census."
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When Colorlines reported on the Supreme Court’s decision to forbid a citizenship question to the 2020 census, many social justice organizations responded with cautious optimism. Now, advocates can exhale because the “Census Bureau has started the process of printing the decennial questionnaires without the question,” said secretary of commerce Wilbur Ross, the New York Times reported yesterday (July 2).
The decision to yield also came the day after 28 senators called on Ross to uphold the Court’s ruling on the census. “By continuing to pursue the citizenship question, you will further delay and jeopardize the Census Bureau’s ability to conduct a full, fair, and accurate decennial census as required by the U.S. Constitution and the Census Act,” the senators wrote. “We urge you to stop all efforts to add a citizenship question and allow the Census Bureau to proceed with preparation for a 2020 census without a citizenship question on the questionnaire.”
Many grassroots and social justice organizations have since rejoiced, tweeting that this is a win against an attempt to manipulate democracy.
#BREAKING: We WON! Following our Supreme Court victory in the #2020Census case, the administration confirms the questionnaire will NOT include a citizenship question.
— Make the Road NY ? (@MaketheRoadNY) July 2, 2019
HUGE win for our community, which has fought hard against this attempt to erase us!https://t.co/ph4OItsZ7r
UPDATE: The government just confirmed the 2020 census is being printed without a citizenship question.
— ACLU (@ACLU) July 2, 2019
Count us ALL in. https://t.co/hW1qnAfIjy
Sorry for not responding to your tweet earlier, Mr. President. We were a little busy standing up for the true values of our nation, and fighting for liberty & justice for all.
— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) July 2, 2019
We’re glad the #2020Census will begin printing without a citizenship question.
Enjoy your 4th of July. https://t.co/crdD3xOY2z
Everyone will be counted. This is a major victory for equal representation across our country. #2020Census https://t.co/GqsZkspMSt
— Randall Woodfin (@randallwoodfin) July 2, 2019
VICTORY: USDOJ confirms that citizenship question will not be on the 2020 Census.
— Vanita Gupta (@vanitaguptaCR) July 2, 2019