Missouri Attorney General Katherine Hanaway has initiated a legal strategy aiming to prevent the counting of illegal immigrants in the U. S. Census, which she believes could significantly alter political power and federal funding allocations among states, particularly affecting Democratic-leaning states.
1. Census Strategy Overview:
• Hanaway's lawsuit challenges the current policy that includes all persons in the Census for representation and funding.
• The goal is to bar counting illegal immigrants to shift congressional representation to states like Missouri, Tennessee, and Georgia.
2. Previous Administration Actions:
• This initiative echoes President Trump's earlier attempts to exclude illegal immigrants from census calculations, which were reversed by President Biden's administration.
3. Implications of the Lawsuit:
• Hanaway claims that excluding illegal immigrants could lead to a loss of 11 to 14 congressional seats for states like California and New York.
• She argues that the U. S. Constitution intended to count only citizens and lawful permanent residents.
4. Long-Term Legal Battle:
• The legal effort may take years and could reach the U. S. Supreme Court, with potential decisions impacting representation before the 2030 census.
• Hanaway describes the case as having generational significance.
5. Related Lawsuits:
• Other states, including Louisiana, are involved in similar legal actions against census counting methods that include non-citizens.
• The Supreme Court is currently addressing a related redistricting case.
6. Missouri's Broader Legal Efforts:
• Alongside the census challenge, Missouri is pursuing a $23 billion judgment against China related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The state has also celebrated legal victories regarding laws against gender-transition procedures for minors.
Hanaway’s strategy to exclude illegal immigrants from census counts reflects a significant political maneuver that could reshape congressional representation and funding. The outcome of this legal battle, alongside broader legal efforts by Missouri, could have lasting repercussions on state power dynamics.
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