Cindy Carr, cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Donald Trump announced he is directing the Commerce Department to collect citizenship data from all federal agencies and departments. This is a defeat for the administration’s attempts to weaponize the 2020 Census by adding a racist and illegal citizenship question citizenship question in an effort to erase and intimidate immigrants and vulnerable communities from answering the Census and deprive them of political representation and resources. Trump’s announcement still leaves the door open for states to manipulate Congressional districts based on citizenship.
Today’s announcement follows on reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement will begin raids in an attempt to arrest thousands of undocumented immigrants starting on Sunday.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“The Courts and the American people have succeeded in defending the U.S. Constitution from Donald Trump’s racist manipulation of our laws, but the administration’s ongoing cruelty and violence toward migrant families remains unconscionable and inhumane. The Sierra Club will continue to rise with our allies to ensure that no matter how many times Donald Trump attempts to illegally attack, intimidate and exploit people who do call and hope to call America home, he faces strong resistance.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.