Attorney General Frosh Joins Coalition of Attorneys General Opposing Citizenship Question on 2020 Census

Citizenship Question Would Directly Threaten States’ Fair Representation in Congress and Electoral College and Billions in Critical Federal Funding

BALTIMORE, MD – Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh, part of a coalition of 19 Attorneys General and the State of Colorado, today urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to reject the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 decennial Census. The action would directly threaten states’ fair representation in Congress and the Electoral College, as well as billions of dollars in critical federal funds for programs like Medicaid.

Under the Constitution, the Census Bureau has an obligation to determine “the whole number of persons in each state.” Yet the addition of a citizenship question to the Census is expected to depress participation among immigrants, causing a population undercount that would disproportionately harm states and cities with large immigrant communities.

“This is an attempt by the Justice Department to intimidate immigrant communities,” said Attorney General Frosh. “Adding a citizenship question will have a chilling effect. US citizens and others may decline to respond, fearing government action against them or their families. The result will jeopardize funding and depress representation for Maryland.”

Read more in the full press release:http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/press/2018/021218.pdf