Senate Leader Atkins Statement on Memorandum Excluding Immigrants from 2020 Census Count

SACRAMENTO – Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) issued the following statement regarding the White House memorandum that seeks to exclude immigrants from the 2020 Census count:

“The Trump Administration’s attempt to circumvent the law and exclude immigrants amongst those counted in the 2020 Census is unconscionable and unconstitutional. It also is a gross misinterpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, which requires that representatives be apportioned according to the number of persons, all people, living in each state.

“The Administration failed to do this more than a year ago when the Supreme Court of the United States blocked the citizenship question from being included on the Census, and this is yet another attempt at whipping up fear within our communities. The U.S. Constitution is the law, and now, more than ever, we need everyone to participate in the 2020 Census so that we can ensure the law, not divisive politics, governs our land.”

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Toni G. Atkins is President pro Tempore of the California Senate. Having previously served as Speaker of the California Assembly, she began her tenure in the Senate in 2016. As Senator for District 39, she represents the cities of San Diego, Coronado, Del Mar and Solana Beach. Website of President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins: www.senate.ca.gov/Atkins