Trump Orders Mid-Decade Census Excluding Undocumented

President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Commerce to initiate a new, mid-decade census that would exclude undocumented immigrants from the population count, diverging from established census practices. Trump claims this move is needed to address alleged flaws in the 2020 Census, specifically overcounting in blue states and undercounting in red states, which he argues affects congressional representation and federal funding. The effort coincides with Republican attempts to gain more House seats before the 2026 midterm elections. Legal and constitutional experts point out that the U.S. Constitution mandates a census of all persons every ten years and that prior attempts by Trump to alter census methodology were blocked by the courts. The proposal has drawn immediate criticism from Democrats and voting rights advocates, who warn it would face significant legal and logistical hurdles. Current law does not authorize a mid-decade census for congressional apportionment.