Public Urged to Weigh In on New Census Rules

The U.S. Census Bureau is considering sweeping changes to the 2030 Census that would exclude illegal immigrants and certain other noncitizens from congressional apportionment figures, prompting a call for public comments ahead of a November 2 deadline.

The proposed regulations, published in the Federal Register on September 10, would establish new residency requirements for determining who qualifies for inclusion. American citizens and lawful permanent residents would continue to be counted, while foreign nationals without permanent residency would be excluded under the new criteria. The new rules would have a profound impact on New York as the state leads the nation in out-migration. The Democrat strategy of rebuilding the state’s population with immigrants dependent on government benefits would be disrupted by excluding non-citizens from the census. Gov. Kathy Hochul is seeking to ensure illegal immigrants are included in the 2030 count, announcing plans to establish a state census commission and expand outreach efforts ahead of the count. Census figures influence congressional representation, the distribution of federal funding, and decisions concerning public services and infrastructure. Changes in how populations are counted could have far-reaching consequences for states and local communities. “It is vitally important that the next census excludes non-citizens,” said Stephen Scher, Long Island Coordinator for Project Civica. “This would have massive ramifications for Congressional representation, funding and other issues that rely on an accurate count.” The proposed rules also call for eliminating questions concerning race and ethnicity from the decennial census questionnaire, potentially affecting demographic information used in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The comment period was extended following a campaign that generated approximately 1,800 requests for additional time, according to the Association of Public Data Users. Residents can submit comments electronically at www.regulations.gov by searching docket number USBC-2026-0628 and selecting the comment option. The agency will review public submissions before determining whether to promulgate the final regulations. Mandated by the U.S. Constitution, the census has been conducted every 10 years since 1790, providing a foundation for government representation and planning.