STATEMENT FROM JENNIFER JONES AUSTIN ON THE SUPREME COURT’S CENSUS CITIZENSHIP QUESTION DECISION

Today’s Supreme Court decision remanding the Trump Administration’s attempt to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census back to the lower courts is a win for justice and the protection of rights for all. Had the question been included, it surely would have led to an undercount in immigrant and low-income communities, rendering them invisible. It also would have kept all in the community at large from accessing their fair share of federal resources that are dependent on a valid Census count.

While we applaud the Supreme Court’s decision, it does leave open the possibility that the question could still be included if the lower courts are able to resolve the justification question that the justices raised.  The message is clear: as advocates for the rights of all New Yorkers we know that we must remain vigilant to ensure that all New Yorkers will participate in the census. FPWA will be joining with other partners throughout the city to empower low-income and immigrant New Yorkers to be counted and affirm their rights. By standing together as New Yorkers, we all will be counted.