The U.S. Supreme court heard arguments in the case on nationality in the census

On April 23, the U.S. Supreme court heard arguments in the case of the Ministry of Commerce of the United States against the city of new York, better known as «the Case of the nationality in the census».

The plaintiff in this case is new York and the attorney General of the state of new York, as well as a number of other cities and States — and for good reason. The case may deprive of proper representation and without nedouchtenny people of color and immigrants in new York. In result, new York could lose share of Federal funding directed to essential programs and services (including public housing, child nutrition and special education), which allocated billions of dollars in funds.

The case arose as a result of the fact that the administration of the trump in the form for «Census 2020» has been added to the question (which, incidentally, was not asked since 1950): «Are you a citizen of the United States of America?» This is another example of the aggressive policy of the administration trump against immigrants. Once again the administration is trying to belittle people of color, silencing of immigrants and to turn the United States into a country of exclusion but not of unity. We have not retreated since the beginning of this administration, will not retreat now.

By incorporating this question into the questionnaire, administration of the trump seeks to discourage immigrants to participate in the census, which will lead to their underestimation in many multiethnic cities and States. When the population of the city or state Negotino, people in these regions do not get enough representation in Congress and will lose some Federal funds.

It is assumed that as a result of the underestimation of the state of new York could lose up to two seats in Congress. The same thing could happen in other States, where there are large immigrant or colored community, they can lose a disproportionate part of the mission.

Simply put, the administration trump is trying to use the constitutional duty of the Federal government to consider us as a tool to make us hurt.

In addition to the representation, another important factor is the amount of Federal funding. The Federal government annually allocates to cities and States more than $ 800 billion on 320 different programs that depend on census. Funding for public education, programs for people with special needs, low-income women, old people’s homes and infrastructure depends on the census.

Only in 2016 based on census data, in 2010 new York received more than 73 billion dollars in the framework of the 55 programs. Moreover, census data are used by municipal authorities and enterprises in making important life decisions. For example, in connection with the measles outbreak, the health Department of the city of new York relies on census data to determine the level of vaccination coverage of the affected areas.

Realizing the seriousness of the problem, we are given the hope of a favorable outcome of the case in January, when the judge of the district court of the United States Jesse Furman (JesseFurman) held that the addition of an administration trump the question of nationality violated Federal law. This decision was appealed by the administration of the tramp, and on Tuesday the Supreme court justices had heard arguments in new York. We remain confident that the facts — and the law is on our side.

We know that the probability of inclusion of a question on citizenship has already caused damage to immigrant communities. All immigrants and communities in our city, which question the appropriateness of participation in the census, we say: the best way to fight back and overcome the fear imposed by the administration trump, is to fill out the census form.

Next year, for the first time in history, the form will be available online, and to fill it will be only a couple of minutes. Those who have no access to the Internet, will be able to answer questions on the phone.

Let us state here and now: we will not allow that we were deprived of legitimate rights, and we have the right to be heard everywhere — from Congress to local schools.

We — new Yorkers. We will be reckoned with, we will consider.

Julie Menin (Menin Julie) and Bitta, Mostofi (Bitta Mostofi)

Julie Menin is the head of the census population in the city of new York, and senior counsel, strategic advocacy. Bitta, Mostofi is the authorized representative of the municipality of the immigrants.

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