WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s executive action on apportionment:

“The Fourteenth Amendment to our nation’s constitution states, ‘Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed.’ Congressional representation is key to our democracy.  Laws authored and passed by members of Congress impact millions every day, as they grant access to healthcare, pave the way for equal educational opportunities, and fund dozens of institutions for the public.  Rejecting tens of millions of individuals from the decennial census, for the purpose of skewing the numbers for congressional districts and removing congressional representation, is unconstitutional and will have detrimental effects on immigrant communities across the country.   

“This most recent executive action serves only to further weaponize the Census and instill fear among immigrant communities. Rather than attacking and marginalizing immigrant communities, Congress must come together to pass unified, bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation that would settle the status of Dreamers and pave a way to citizenship for those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and the many other immigrants living in the shadows today.” 

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