Header Image

Campaign Updates

06/27/2019

Immigrant Rights Advocates Express Vow to Continue Fighting Following Supreme Court Rule on Census Citizenship Question

“The SCOTUS decision fuels our movement for a fair count.”

06.27.2019

WASHINGTON -- In response to the Department of Commerce v. New York case decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, Center For Popular Democracy and its network of affiliates released the following statements.

Ana María Archila, Co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy: 

“The stakes are higher than ever for us. The SCOTUS decision today fuels our movement for a fair count. There is no doubt that the Trump administration is set on intimidating immigrant communities and diminishing our power with a citizenship question on the census. Their agenda threatens immigrant communities and denies us a right to visibility and representation. We will continue to raise our voices to protect our loved ones and build space where we all have the freedom to thrive. 

“The census is an opportunity to demand our country reflect us and our needs accurately. There are no decisions that should be made about us, without us. When we’re counted in the census, we ensure our communities have access to public resources and political power.” 

Gustavo Torres, Executive Director of CASA:

“The citizenship question is not going to be included. It is a victory for our communities and families. And we are going to keep fighting in the district court to make sure everyone is counted. This victory is for all of those who have risked their lives in search of a better future.”

CASA on the front steps of the Supreme Court of the United States

Javier H. Valdés, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York:

“Today we are vindicated in our struggle to ensure our communities are fully counted. The court’s ruling reaffirms what we have known from the start: the Trump administration’s attempt to add a citizenship question had nothing to do with voting rights and was instead a reckless effort to deny immigrants and communities of color the schools, hospitals and vital services they need to survive. The proposed citizenship question would jeopardize congressional representation and deter the participation of immigrants and people of color—communities who are historically undercounted and unrepresented.  

"As of now, the reckless citizenship question remains off of the form. We will continue to fight to ensure that the Census excludes this question that seeks to erase our communities. Our communities will continue to organize to ensure we receive the political representation and resources we need. United we will ensure that all our communities are informed and counted and that the data collected by the Census Bureau is protected.”

Ian Pham, Digital Organizer of United for a New Economy (UNE) 

“UNE commends the Supreme Court on their decision to not ask the question of citizenship on the 2020 census. This question posed a threat to Coloradan immigrants and residents of color who are already undercounted and underrepresented in our democracy.”

Sara Cullinane, Director of Make the Road New Jersey

"Today's Supreme Court decision is a victory for immigrant communities. Today, the Supreme Court justices found that the Trump administration's rationale for including the citizenship question was "contrived." Their decision confirms what we have known all along - the Commerce Department's attempts to include the citizenship question in the 2020 Census are rooted in bigotry and motivated by right-wing political agenda. We all count, no matter where we come from. Make the Road New Jersey was proud to join this lawsuit by providing a witness declaration as proof of the negative impact a citizenship question would have on immigrant communities' participation in the 2020 Census. We will be counted and we will continue to fight to ensure that the citizenship question stays off the census. We look forward to working for a complete count in New Jersey."

Lupe Magdalena, Executive Director of Sunflower Community Action

“Today the Supreme Court listened to organizations that for months had argued that this question is just another attempt by the Trump administration to undermine our communities. This ruling is an important step in making sure our communities are counted. We now urge lower court to stop this effort to add a question rooted on racism and fear mongering. Whatever happens, the damage and fear that has been instilled by Trump's hateful policies is real. Now more than ever, we must work to make sure our communities get counted and can get the resources they need to thrive.” 

LaLo Montoya, Political Director, Make the Road Nevada. 

"The Trump administration's attempt to add the citizenship question to the 2020 census has always been about suppressing our community's voice. Today's SCOTUS forces a reprint of the Census form to exclude the citizenship question and it means the Trump administration will continue to argue for it in the lower courts. We will not stop fighting Trump's attempt to silence our political power. We will organize to make sure all of our neighbors, friends, and families are counted." 

Jose R Diaz Gonzalez, Reading member of Make the Road PA

“I feel very happy with this decision, because now, our people, without this question and without fear, can be counted fairly in the 2020 census. We will no longer be made invisible by the hateful agenda of the Trump administration. Now our Latino community can have the education, food, health and housing programs that it needs and deserves.”

###

Media Contact: Inarú Meléndez, imelendez@populardemocracy.org, 413-331-9530