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Press Release Published: Dec 18, 2020

Comer on SCOTUS Ruling: Illegal Immigrants Must Not Dilute Americans’ Representation in Congress

WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer (R-Ky.) today issued the statement below following the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a challenge to the Trump administration’s plan to exclude illegal immigrants in the reapportionment of congressional seats.

“I applaud the Supreme Court’s sound decision not to weigh in on activist litigation. Including illegal immigrants in the count for representation in Congress only dilutes the representation of all Americans who vote in elections and makes a mockery of our basic principle of ‘one person, one vote.’ The President’s plan restores the concept of representational government envisioned by the Constitution. This is an issue of fairness and all Americans should care about who is being included in the apportionment count.”

In July, President Trump directed the Secretary of Commerce to report an apportionment count for the House of Representatives which excludes non-legal residents in the United States, including illegal immigrants.