Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Justice Department Still Working to Add Citizenship Questionto Census

Arrington Luck

   Justice Department attorneys confirmed Friday that they were still
   working to add a citizenship question to the census, although they did
   not provide a new rationale for doing so, a requirement the Supreme
   Court set last week.
   In a Maryland court filing, the Justice attorneys said they had been
   "instructed to examine whether there is a path forward, consistent with
   the Supreme Court's decision, that would allow for the inclusion of the
   citizenship question on the census."

   Critics have said adding such a question couldsuppress the count of
   minorities.
   Before the filing,President Donald Trump said he was considering "four
   or five" ways to add the citizenship question to the census.
   "We are working on a lot of things, including an executive order,"
   Trump told reporters Friday outside the White House. He also said
   that"we could start the printing[of census forms]now and maybe do an
   addendum after we get a positive decision."

   In court, however, Justice attorneys said the Commerce Department had
   not yet adopted a new rationale for the citizenship question.

   "In the event the Commerce Department adopts a new rationale for
   including the citizenship question on the 2020 Decennial Census
   consistent with the decisions of the Supreme Court, the government will
   immediately notify this court so that it can determine whether there is
   any need for further proceedings or relief," the filing said.

   Critics' complaint

   Trump's Democratic opponents have said that including the citizenship
   question is a Republican ploy to scare immigrants into not
   participating in the census out of fear that immigration officials
   might target those found to be in the country illegally for
   deportation.An undercount in Democrat-leaning areas with large
   immigrant and Latino populations could result in reduced congressional
   representation for some states and less federal aid.

.