If Americans have learned one thing from the current crisis at the southern border, it’s that the Biden Administration’s poorly thought out, counterproductive, and irresponsible policies are exacerbating the problems in our immigration system rather than fixing them. Congress needs to clean up this mess now. We need to shore up the breaches, resecure our border, and stem what can only be accurately described as an invasion.
In the 117th Congress, Republicans are not lacking solutions to our immigration crisis. But to enact those solutions we first need correct and accurate information detailing just how many illegal immigrants have crossed into our country. At the root of the problem with our immigration policy lies one central flaw: Congress lacks key citizenship data. To address this issue, I am introducing the Common-Sense Census Act of 2021, which can act as a cornerstone for all America first immigration reform efforts already taking place in the 117th Congress.
The Trump Administration took executive action to include a citizenship question on the decennial census, and to otherwise increase the data available to lawmakers about who is residing in our country. The Common-Sense Census Act would make these reforms permanent. Respondents would be required to indicate whether or not they and the members of their household are citizens or nationals of the United States. Including a citizenship question on the decennial census would provide the Department of Commerce with much more accurate data on citizenship and help Congress make informed policy.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, citizenship data is necessary for lawmakers and policy analysts to understand the effects of different immigration policies on our country and to make decisions on best policy practices. If we do not have accurate citizenship data, our ability to evaluate and implement effective public benefits programs for those non-citizens who are eligible for them is hampered. Lack of accurate citizenship information also distorts crucial data that is used to formulate key budget plans for benefits programs and to examine proposals for changing public benefit amounts or eligibility requirements. In addition, the data gleaned from the implementation of this legislation will help the federal government, academic researchers, and others come up with a much more reliable measure of the illegal immigrant population residing in the country.
The Common-Sense Census Act also establishes an interagency working group to provide information and recommendations for collecting the most accurate citizenship information possible and disseminating this information to the Secretary of Commerce. The bill further establishes a requirement that only U.S. citizens be included in Congressional apportionment considerations.
Including only U.S. citizens in considerations for Congressional apportionment will strengthen our democracy, our civic institutions, and make us more cohesive as a nation. The Common-Sense Census Act of 2021 will facilitate other immigration reform proposals by giving Congress reliable data, and a statistical map, that it has lacked in the past. It is time to for common-sense immigration policies. This legislation will give Congress a solid foundation from which to start.
Hon. Madison Cawthorn represents North Carolina’s 11th District in the United States House of Representatives.