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Is it fair to ask about citizenship on the census?

Poll - Total Votes: 25

Totally Fair

Racist!

You can only vote on one answer.

They use census information to draw congressional district boundaries.
Since non-citizens can't vote anyway, isn't it fair to know how many there are and where they live?

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windinhishair · 61-69, M

The census is used to determine how many people live in certain areas, not how many citizens live in certain areas.

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windinhishair · 61-69, M

@sarabee1995 Desperate people will do desperate things. It is naive to think that 11,000,000 people will self-deport. It just won't happen.

It has been nice talking with you. We agree on many things, disagree on others. Thank you for your cordiality. It doesn't happen often enough on SW.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@windinhishair Again, I didn't say it would happen.
- Some would self-deport, possibly many
- Some would stay here with family
- Some would turn to a life of crime

Each group would be dealt with appropriately.

But under no circumstances would I legitimize their decision to break our laws by making their so-called residency here legal. No sir. That is a slap in the face to my grandfather and every other legal immigrant in the history of the country and a slap in the face to everyone currently standing in line at our embassies around the world.

sarabee1995 · 26-30, F

@windinhishair Sorry I missed the second half of your last comment. Yes, reasoned debate is sorely lacking here on SW and in our current political climate. The art of debate is something I study and enjoy thoroughly. If at the end of our discussion we agree on some things and disagree on others, then I think we can say the afternoon was a success. Be well.

Graylight · 51-55, F

The census isn't design for political reasons or just to draw congressional district boundaries. The very purpose of the census, as has been well defined through the years, is to count every human being living within the boundaries of this country. Not just citizens.

This is a transparent ploy to force the numbers of illegal immigrants down so that the administration looks better. Illegal immigrants will tend not to answer the census oh, that's creating the illusion there are fewer of them in the country.

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Budwick · 70-79, M

@JP1119 [quote]We never needed a citizenship question before, that’s not in the Constitution. Why now?[/quote]

Why not?
You may have heard over the past few decades that there are a large number of people crossing the border. We don't know who they are, where they are going, etc. It's been estimated that there are between 11 and 31 million of these people here. We have a right / obligation to know who is here.

Why now? Cuz your party has been in over drive enticing illegals to risk their lives coming here in unprecedented numbers.

JP1119 · 36-40, M

@Budwick [quote]Why not?[/quote] Because it intimidates people into not answering the census at all. If, as you say, you want to know who is here, then don’t ask if they’re citizens.

[quote]Cuz your party has been in over drive enticing illegals to risk their lives coming here in unprecedented numbers.[/quote] I think you’re overreacting. How are we doing that? Things like raising the minimum wage, making health insurance affordable for more people, improving infrastructure, things that help everyone? Immigrants, legal or illegal, being enticed to come here is a natural consequence of making our country a good place for everyone to live. I know! Let’s turn America into a shit hole country. That way we don’t have to worry about illegal immigrants wanting to come here!

Budwick · 70-79, M

@JP1119 Well, thanks for your opinion.
I think they will ask the question despite your opinion.

4meAndyou · F

The census is used to determine funding for local schools. But all money, for all entitlement services is affected by how many people are living in the state, with some differences for non-citizens, so yes, it is very fair to ask.

Census data are used to determine how much federal funding is sent to the states, and then distributed to cities and towns by the states. The census is used by the federal government to determine the states per capita income as well.

Per capita income affects how much money the government will give the state for Medicaid programs, as one example, or for food stamps. It affects all the entitlement programs, such as Section 8 housing, and special education grants.

At age 65, or if disabled, Non citizens are not eligible to receive free part A Medicare, and they must purchase part B medicare.

Right now, benefit availability for non-citizens is as follows:

"Refugees and asylees are eligible for food stamps/SNAP.
 Refugees and asylees are eligible for SSI benefits and Medicaid for
seven years after arrival and are eligible for TANF for five years.8 After
this term, they generally are ineligible for SSI, but may be eligible, at
state option, for Medicaid and TANF.9
 LPRs with a substantial work history—generally 10 years (40 quarters)
of work documented by Social Security or other employment records—
or a military connection (active duty military personnel, veterans, and
their families) are eligible for the full range of programs.
 LPRs are not eligible for SSI during the first five years even if they had
40 credits of earnings (e.g., as a temporary worker prior to receiving LPR
status).10
 LPRs receiving SSI as of August 22, 1996, continue to be eligible for
SSI.
 Noncitizen SSI recipients are eligible for (and required to be covered
under) Medicaid.
 Disabled LPRs who were legal residents as of August 22, 1996, are
eligible for SSI.
 Disabled LPRs are eligible for SNAP.
11
 LPRs who were elderly (65+) and legal residents as of August 22, 1996,
are eligible for SNAP.
 LPRs who have been legal residents for five years or are children (under
18) are eligible for SNAP.
 LPRs entering after August 22, 1996, are barred from TANF and
Medicaid for five years, after which their coverage becomes a state
option.12 States have the option to cover LPRs who are children or who
are pregnant during the first five years"

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33809.pdf

AbbeyRhode · F

Of course it is. The Census is about counting CITIZENS, not criminals who shouldn't be here. It's about figuring out the amount of representation and funding for those citizens, things illegals are not entitled to.

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Budwick · 70-79, M

@calnative [quote]Please show me the part of the Constitution where it says only White people should be counted.
[/quote]

The US Constitution stated in Amendment XXVI, which was ratified by the states in 1971: "Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are eighteen years of age or older, to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of age

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Budwick · 70-79, M

@calnative Please show me the part of the Constitution where it says only White people should be counted.

katielass · F

Why wouldn't we want to know how many people are legal and how many are here illegally. Besides, it looks like the court are going to rule in Trump's favour, as they should.

Heartlander · 80-89, M

@katielass Why? The same logic behind voter ID. Democrats want to skew elections in their favor.

katielass · F

@Heartlander The justices practically said as much during oral arguments. Watch for ruling in June.

curiosi · 61-69, F

HELL YEAH! The libs fight it because they want more representation for themselves!

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TexChik · F

The libs are counting illegals as citizens to get redistricting and federal funds they wouldn't be able to get...as well as bolstering electoral votes. I suspect California would lose a few if a factual count was made.

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JP1119 · 36-40, M

@TexChik 1. They always have before. Breaking the law doesn’t void all your rights. 2. A significant number of non-citizens are here [i]legally[/i].

TexChik · F

@JP1119 if someone is here legally but not a citizen, then they cant vote or be counted in a census as a resident. Having always been able to break the law before is not and excuse. The law is going to be enforced , much to the lib's dismay

JP1119 · 36-40, M

@TexChik [quote]if someone is here legally but not a citizen, then they can’t vote or be counted in a census as a resident.[/quote] False. You’re right that they can’t vote, but they can be counted as residents in the census. Always have been, and, citizenship question notwithstanding, still will be. Even Trump hasn’t suggested yet that non-citizens shouldn’t be counted in the census.

And submitting a census form is not against the law.

Heartlander · 80-89, M

Yep. Non-citizens that get counted influences apportionment and the number of seats each state gets in the House of Representatives as well as their votes in the electoral college.

Notice how the Democrat stooge media never mentions this when discussing the fairness Vs unfairness of counting non-citizens.

The way the math goes, for every million illegals that California harbors under their sanctuary laws and gets counted in the census, they get an additional seat in the House of Representatives, and ..... another state loses a seat in the House. The state that loses the seat is probably a non-sanctuary state.

So why do Democrats now control the house of Representatives? It's at least partly because it's the Democrat states that give sanctuary.

hlpflwthat · M

@Heartlander

Carazaa · F

I care about ALL people, even if they are not citizens! We need to know who is a citizen or not so we can help them those who are not. Some refugees starve because of fear. That is so sad!

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Carazaa · F

@JP1119The question was is it fair! I answered that!

JP1119 · 36-40, M

The reasoning you gave to justify its supposed fairness was dubious. Either you were confused or misinformed, or you were trying to confuse/misinform others.[quote]Some refugees starve because of fear. That is so sad![/quote] If it really bothers you that refugees are starving, then you should be outraged about the citizenship question because it will only cause more fear.

JP1119 · 36-40, M

@Heartlander The census has always been meant to count everyone, not just people who can vote. Officially, it still will count everyone. The citizenship question is just a way of unofficially, underhandedly bullying non-citizens into not answering the census.

Fungirlmmm · 51-55, F

Oh heck yes. I don't mind my tax dollars paying for legit citizens, but I do not make enough to, and even if did do not want to support the world.

This message was deleted by its author.

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Budwick · 70-79, M

@Graylight [quote]We have no immigration crisis at the current time, either. And what does this mean[/quote]

If you don't even know what it means, how can you say there is no crisis?

We DO know what it means, and there is one.

There, you've learned something today.

You're welcome.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Budwick I've learned even more about the conservative brand of willful ignorance and confirmation bias.

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