LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a motion Tuesday opposing proposed U.S. Census Bureau changes that would exclude certain immigrants from the population count used to determine congressional representation.
The motion by board Chair Hilda Solis directs the county's Chief Executive Office Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations Branch, in consultation with the Office of Immigrant Affairs, to send a five-signature letter to the Census Bureau director expressing the county's opposition.
The county was also directed to submit public comments opposing the proposed changes and monitor legal challenges.
According to Solis' office, the Census Bureau proposed changes Sept. 9 to how people living in the United States would be counted in the 2030 Census.
The proposed changes would redefine a person's "usual residence" to exclude immigrants with certain legal statuses from the population count used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives, according to Solis' office.
The proposal would also exclude some immigrants who are lawfully present in the United States but do not have lawful permanent resident status, the supervisor's office said.
"The Constitution does not allow the federal government to pick and choose who counts," Solis said. "The census has long counted people where they live, regardless of immigration status. Excluding residents from the count would reduce representation and jeopardize funding that supports health care, housing, education and other essential services. Los Angeles County will continue to stand up for a fair and accurate census."
The Census Bureau did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Solis' office said the Census Bureau has separately proposed eliminating questions about race, ethnicity and sexual orientation from census questionnaires.
The decennial census is used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives and helps determine the distribution of federal funding to states and local communities.
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