Fact check: How does the US census determine the number of citizens versus non-citizens?

1. Summary of the results

The US census determines population counts through a constitutionally mandated process that counts all persons residing in the United States, regardless of citizenship status. The 14th Amendment requires the 'whole number of persons in each state' to be included in census numbers used to determine congressional representation and Electoral College allocation ^[1].

The US Census Bureau defines the foreign-born population as anyone who is not a U.S. citizen at birth, including those who become naturalized citizens, while the native-born population consists of anyone who is a U.S. citizen at birth ^[2]. The Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) provides ongoing statistics about the foreign-born population using this definition ^[3].

Regarding citizenship questions specifically, the 2020 census was ultimately printed without a citizenship question after the Supreme Court ruled against its inclusion and the Trump administration decided not to pursue it further ^[4]. The Constitution requires a total 'enumeration' of everyone living in America, including both citizens and non-citizens ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question doesn't address the significant political and legal controversies surrounding citizenship data collection. The Department of Justice had requested adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census, arguing it would help enforce the Voting Rights Act, but critics argued this could lead to undercounting of minorities ^[6].

A critical missing context is that President Trump has instructed the Commerce Department to work on a 'new' census that would exclude people without legal status, which would be unprecedented and potentially unconstitutional ^[1]. However, experts emphasize that any census changes would require alterations to the Census Act and Congressional approval - Trump cannot unilaterally order such changes ^[7].

The presence of citizenship questions could discourage Hispanic households and non-citizens from responding, leading to systematic undercounts that would affect political representation and federal funding distribution ^[5]. This creates a tension between data collection goals and constitutional requirements.

Political actors who would benefit from excluding non-citizens from census counts include those seeking to reduce representation in areas with large immigrant populations, as this could shift congressional seats and Electoral College votes to different regions.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself doesn't contain misinformation, but it may inadvertently suggest that the census currently distinguishes between citizens and non-citizens in its official count, which is constitutionally prohibited. The census counts all residents regardless of legal status, as required by the 14th Amendment ^[1].

The question also doesn't acknowledge that any attempt to exclude people without legal status would be logistically impossible and face significant legal challenges ^[7]. The Census Bureau is currently preparing for the 2030 census with existing constitutional and legal frameworks intact ^[8].

The framing could benefit those pushing for citizenship-based counting by normalizing the idea that such distinctions are part of standard census operations, when in fact they would represent a fundamental departure from constitutional requirements and established practice.