A quarter of Americans don't trust Census on citizenship: Reuters/Ipsos poll

Reuters ^ | May 10, 2019 | by Lauren Tara LaCapra

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The Trump administration has repeatedly assured Americans that it will not use data from a proposed citizenship question on the 2020 Census to target undocumented immigrants. But more than a quarter of Americans don’t believe it, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll.

That skepticism could have serious implications for the accuracy of the decennial count, according to demographers, activists, local governments and corporations who say it will prompt millions of residents to skip the survey out of fear their participation will result in deportation.

An undercount on the Census could pose lasting problems for communities with high immigrant populations because the survey determines how $900 billion in federal money is allocated, along with how federal and state electoral maps are redrawn.

Twenty-six percent of Americans believe the government wants to insert the question about citizenship to “help enforce U.S. immigration laws and detain illegal immigrants.” Eight percent believe it is designed to result in an undercount in immigrant communities, according to the poll of more than 2,000 people conducted April 30-May 2.

Thirty percent of respondents, however, view the question as a “standard recordkeeping and reporting procedure,” and 21 percent think it will improve Census tallies.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Fake News (aka pseudo event) from Reuters. Here is the money question:

Do you approve or disapprove of the Census asking about people's citizenship status? Strongly Approve (41%). Somewhat Approve (14%). Lean Towards Approve (12%). So 67% of "All Americans" support asking about immigration status on the Census.

[dead]

We’re counting our citizens. If you’re not a citizen, you don’t count. The end.

[econjack]

Take that 25% and add 1 to it...

[17th Miss Regt]

...because the survey determines how $900 billion in federal money is allocated,...

That is a big chunk of money and will have major impacts. One excellent way to reduce the impact of a miscount is to reduce that amount to, say $450 billion. Cut federal spending by the difference and then the impact of a miscount is minimized!

[Buckeye McFrog]

The Federal Government at this point has a very low level of credibility on ANY subject.

Occam’s Razor.

[Cincinnatus.45-70]

Guess what they would say if a poll showed only 25% of Americans favored gun ownership? How fast would Reuters start putting out surveys that said gun ownership should go to re-education camps?

[mewzilla]

If the citizenship question is NOT on the form, we will NOT be filling out the form

What’s the point.

[T. P. Pole]

So, if we are allocating billions of dollars based on population counts, and some folk that are here illegally might not fill out their forms, and therefore not be used when calculating that allocation, how is this a problem?

[Will88]

There has been a promise for years that census data will not be used for any other purpose. There is much precedent to go on. What is the past record of the government keeping that promise?

I’ve never heard of census data being used track anyone down.

[CurlyDave]

If the citizenship question is NOT on the form, we will NOT be filling out the form

What’s the point.

Wrong answer!!

No matter what the form looks like, the results will still be used for apportionment of House seats and allocation of federal funds.

Not answering the form is cutting off our nose to spite our face. We need more representation in conservative areas, not less.

[9YearLurker]

There is no reason it shouldn’t be used against illegals. Jeesh! Just like all the IRS/SS fraud we’re aware of with them.

[Boogieman]

“But more than a quarter of Americans don’t believe it...”

Well, I assume Reuters didn’t verify their citizenship before taking the poll, so it’s really “a quarter of people who happen to be in America don’t believe it”.

If we’ve got a population of 350 million thereabouts and somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 million are illegal, then it’s probably more like 15% of actual Americans oppose this. So an 85% supermajority thinks this is a totally reasonable question, but I bet that the courts and large segments of both political parties will try to thwart the will of the people anyway.

[Pollster1]

Twenty-six percent of Americans believe the government wants to insert the question about citizenship to “help enforce U.S. immigration laws and detain illegal immigrants.” Eight percent believe it is designed to result in an undercount in immigrant communities, according to the poll of more than 2,000 people conducted April 30-May 2. Thirty percent of respondents, however, view the question as a “standard recordkeeping and reporting procedure,” and 21 percent think it will improve Census tallies.

I approve of enforcing immigration laws - no exceptions. I approve of detaining illegals until they can be deported, with quick and certain deportations to follow. I approve of failing to count illegals who are thousands of miles from their legal residence. I approve of accurate recordkeeping and reporting. And I approve of improved Census tallies that count legal residents accurately. I love a survey with no negatives.

[M-cubed]

Not answering the form is cutting off our nose to spite our face. We need more representation in conservative areas, not less. <<

If illegals and non citizens can be counted...I guess my native born cats and dogs can be counted too...../s

[outpostinmass2]

I live in Massachusetts, I have never filled out the census form.

[b4its2late]

3/4’S DO.

[rightwingcrazy]

“Sixty-seven percent said they approve of its inclusion, with 41 percent saying they “strongly” approve.”

They could have chosen to headline this opinion of the strong majority, but did not.

[rjsimmon]

And it will be apportioned based upon population, not ideology.

[cranked]

Let’s be honest here: “quarter of Americans” are flat out whackjobs, flat-earthers, enviro progressive idiots, etc., but yeah....../s

[Usually_Disappointed]

Ditto from California...