Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross decided to issue a citizenship question for the 2020 Census and the State of New York challenged this decision.

Overview:

Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross’s decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census was challenged by a coalition of states, cities, and counties. New York and its plaintiffs alleged that the citizenship question would cause a significant undercount because individuals with families that do not have U.S. citizenship status might refrain from filling out the 2020 Census. Having fewer citizens responding to the 2020 Census would then cause a decrease in federal funding. Furthermore, they claim that the Department’s decision was unconstitutional and violated various regulatory and statutory provisions. On January 15, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court said it was constitutional to include the citizenship question, but that it violated APA.