Bishops Oppose Census Bureau Rule Changes Regarding Noncitizen Count

The U.S. Census Bureau proposed rule changes for the 2030 census that would remove demographic questions about race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. The proposal also states that for congressional apportionment, only citizens and lawful permanent residents should be counted, excluding 'illegal aliens'. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops submitted a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick opposing these changes.

The proposed rule changes affect how population is counted for congressional apportionment, which determines the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bishops argued that excluding noncitizens from the apportionment count effectively denies their personhood.