The Trump administration announced that it would no longer pursue adding a question about citizenship to the 2020 census days after a Supreme Court loss on the matter.
Justice Department attorney Kate Bailey said in a Tuesday email that the census questionnaire would proceed, sans the citizenship question.
“We can confirm that the decision has been made to print the 2020 Decennial Census questionnaire without a citizenship question, and that the printer has been instructed to begin the printing process,” Bailey wrote.
Here’s the email from DOJ pic.twitter.com/PdyfK0a1hJ
— Daniel Jacobson (@Dan_F_Jacobson) July 2, 2019
In a 5-4 decision, with Chief Justice John Roberts authoring the court’s opinion, the Supreme Court effectively blocked the question from inclusion on the 2020 questionnaire.
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross confirmed in a Tuesday statement that the Census Bureau would move forward with printing the surveys, despite President Trump saying Thursday that he would consider delaying it.
“I respect the Supreme Court but strongly disagree with its ruling regarding my decision to reinstate a citizenship question on the 2020 Census,” Ross said.
“The Census Bureau has started the process of printing the decennial questionnaires without the question,” he added. “My focus, and that of the Bureau and the entire Department is to conduct a complete and accurate census.”
Trump condemned the Supreme Court ruling over Twitter Tuesday night. He said that he is directing the Commerce and Justice departments to look into the matter, though he didn’t offer specifics.
“A very sad time for America when the Supreme Court of the United States won’t allow a question of ‘Is this person a Citizen of the United States?’ to be asked on the #2020 Census! Going on for a long time. I have asked the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice to do whatever is necessary to bring this most vital of questions, and this very important case, to a successful conclusion. USA! USA! USA!” Trump said.
A very sad time for America when the Supreme Court of the United States won’t allow a question of “Is this person a Citizen of the United States?” to be asked on the #2020 Census! Going on for a long time. I have asked the Department of Commerce and the Department of Justice….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019
….to do whatever is necessary to bring this most vital of questions, and this very important case, to a successful conclusion. USA! USA! USA!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2019
