LCLAA Rejects Trump Administration’s Attempt to Exclude Undocumented Immigrants from 2020 Census

Statement
22 July 2020

Washington D.C.-  In his latest move aimed at stripping immigrants from their rights, Trump has released a memorandum calling for the exclusion of undocumented immigrants from participating in the “Apportionment” section of the U.S. Census. This specific part of our national headcount is used to determine the number of Congressional seats each state gets. 

Defending his decision, Trump has said, “We will collect all the information we need to conduct an accurate census and to make responsible decisions about public policy, voting rights, and representation in Congress.” 

Nonetheless, this is not the first time that Trump has attempted to politicize the census. Last year the Supreme Court blocked the administration’s proposed “citizenship question,” which has left scores of immigrants- both documented and undocumented alike- hesitant about census participation. This move is just another tactic that this administration is using in order to divide us, and distract the nation from the real issue: the lack of leadership that has thus far ignored the seriousness of COVID-19, resulting in our nation’s mounting death toll. 

This administration, much like the scores of dictatorial regimes that our nation has historically stood up against, is using terrorizing tactics to silence the voices of the most vulnerable communities. From voter suppression, to tear gassing peaceful protests, and deploying federal troops, we are witnessing a dangerous attack against our nation’s most sacred value: Our Democracy. 

“For years, LCLAA has been tirelessly working on providing information on the census to Latino and immigrant communities. We have held town halls, and webinars aimed at highlighting the importance of census participation,” said Yanira Merino, LCLAA National President. “Our communities have proven to have immense power, we are the frontline workers, we are the essential workers, we are the ones who pay taxes and are left out of federal aid packages. This move is designed to perpetuate the exploitation of undocumented immigrants, it is an intimidation tactic, and an attemt to silence us. My message today is simple: We are ready to put on this fight. Hear us scream, because we will not be silenced.”

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The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families. LCLAA was born in 1972 out of the need to educate, organize and mobilize Latinos in the labor movement and has expanded its influence to organize Latinos in an effort to impact workers’ rights and their influence in the political process. LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership. Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.