NEW YORK - A longtime Republican redistricting expert played a key role in adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census, according to court papers filed Thursday by opponents of the move. The new documents may challenge the administration’s argument that the citizenship question in the 2020 census is needed to protect minority voting rights. Instead, opponents argue, they show the census change is part of a wider Republican effort to restrict the political power of Democrats and Latino communities. States, cities and rights groups had sued in New York and elsewhere, arguing that the question would suppress the count of immigrants. Opponents say adding the question will discourage immigrants from participating and strengthen congressional representation and funding for areas where mostly Republicans reside.

Source: thestar May 30, 2019 15:45 UTC