1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

Excluding noncitizens from the census count risks vulnerable immigrant communities facing further marginalization and neglect. An undercount would drastically reduce funding for essential local services, public programs, infrastructure projects, and other vital resources that all residents rely on, regardless of citizenship status. Immigrants contribute immensely to local economies through labor, consumer spending, and tax revenues. Neglecting to fully account for their presence could lead to severe underfunding that fails to adequately meet the true needs of communities. Additionally, an inaccurate population tally risks emboldening anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies by perpetuating the false notion that immigrants do not form an integral part of society. While federal law strictly prohibits using census responses against respondents for any purpose, the mere perception that the census could be a tool for immigration enforcement could tragically undermine public trust and participation rates among immigrant populations fearful of potential repercussions. Ensuring an accurate and complete census count is imperative to upholding the core Constitutional principle of fair representation and equitable allocation of public resources based solely on actual population figures, without compromising immigrant safety, inclusion, or equal rights and protections under the law.