Fact check: How does the United Nations recommend counting undocumented immigrants in national censuses?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the United Nations does recommend counting undocumented immigrants in national censuses through its official guidelines. The UN Statistics Division provides comprehensive guidance through the Principles and Recommendations for Population and Housing Censuses, Revision 3, which outlines various methods for counting all residents, including undocumented immigrants ^[1]. The UN recommends using registers and administrative data sources as part of contemporary census methodologies ^{[1] [2]}.

The analyses also reveal significant political context around this issue in the United States. President Trump has called for a "new and highly accurate" census that would exclude undocumented immigrants ^[3], despite constitutional requirements to count all people regardless of citizenship status ^[3]. The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) has pursued a 40-year campaign to exclude undocumented immigrants from census counts, including filing a lawsuit in 1979 and continuing efforts to influence census policy ^[4].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about the political and legal battles surrounding this issue in the United States. The analyses reveal that excluding undocumented immigrants from census counts could significantly impact congressional seat allocation and federal funding distribution ^[5]. States like Texas could lose political clout under such exclusions ^[5].

Legal and political experts have expressed skepticism about attempts to exclude undocumented immigrants, viewing such exclusions as potentially unconstitutional since the Constitution requires counting all people ^[3]. The question also omits the practical implementation methods that the UN recommends, such as using contemporary technologies and administrative data sources from federal agencies ^{[2] [6]}.

The U.S. Census Bureau currently uses a combination of survey and administrative data to estimate net international migration, including data from the American Community Survey and federal agencies ^[6], which demonstrates existing methodologies for counting all residents.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question appears neutral and factual, seeking information about UN recommendations. However, it lacks context about the highly politicized nature of this issue in the United States. The question could be interpreted as seeking ammunition for either side of the political debate without acknowledging the constitutional and legal complexities involved.

The timing of this question is significant given Trump's recent calls for census changes ^[3] and the decades-long campaign by immigration restrictionist organizations like FAIR to influence census methodology ^[4]. Organizations and political figures who would benefit from excluding undocumented immigrants include those seeking to reduce political representation in immigrant-heavy areas and redirect federal funding away from diverse communities ^[5].

The question also doesn't acknowledge that the UN's recommendations are designed to ensure accurate population counts for all residents, regardless of legal status, which serves broader statistical and planning purposes beyond political considerations.