SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Earlier this month, President Trump proposed major changes to how the U.S. census gets counted. This change is used to determine congressional representation, which would affect communities with large immigrant populations like Syracuse.
The proposal, announced Sept. 9, and published in the federal register the next day, would change the rules for determining who is counted in the population count used for the allocation of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Under the proposal, only lawful U.S. citizens would be counted, excluding visa holders, refugees and asylum seekers.
The Census Bureau says that the proposed change is based on its interpretation of the Constitution’s “usual residence” standard, arguing that legal status should help determine who is counted for congressional representation. The agency proposes counting lawful permanent residents while excluding people whose immigration status is not considered permanent.
If some immigrants are excluded from the count, Syracuse could be underrepresented in terms of population data used to allocate federal funding and determine representation in Congress. This could potentially impact resources available to the community.
This comes as Syracuse has a particularly large immigrant population. About 12.7% of Syracuse residents from 2020 to 2024 have been foreign born, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Immigration attorney Rebecca Cohen said that excluding certain people from the count could make it more difficult for the census to reflect the overall needs of the community.
“Syracuse has a diverse immigrant population, and many of these individuals live here, work here, pay taxes and contribute to our local economy. If they’re not counted, it could create an inaccurate picture of the community and, more importantly, the needs of the community,” Cohen explained.
For immigrants, obtaining official documentation can take month or even years. Ploy Song Chapman, an immigrant and manager at Lemongrass, a Thai restaurant in Syracuse, told NCC News how long it took just to receive a conditional green card.
“It took me like almost a year to be able to get approved for a conditional green card,” Chapman said.
Chapman said she thinks the process may discourage immigrants from coming to the U.S. and applying for official documentation.
“It’s so hard for immigrants who move in to get the official paper. So to exclude it, it almost is just to discourage them from applying,” Chapman explained.
The proposal is not currently in effect, but the Census Bureau is accepting public comments until Nov. 3. The original deadline was October 13, but the Census Bureau extended the period to give the public more time to weigh in. The 2030 census is set to take place in April of 2030.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: How the proposal to change the 2030 Census count would affect Syracuse
Sophia McVige: Earlier this month, the Census Bureau made a proposal that would only count citizens and green card holders in the 2030 Census count, leaving out refugees, asylum seekers and visa holders.
McVige: I spoke with immigration attorney Rebecca Cohen, who says that this could affect the Syracuse community.
Rebecca Cohen: Syracuse has a diverse immigrant population, and many of these individuals live here, work here, pay taxes and contribute to our local economy. If they’re not counted, it could create an inaccurate picture of the community and, more importantly, the needs of the community.
McVige: Immigrant-owned businesses play a big role in Central New York’s economy. I headed over to one of those businesses, Lemongrass, where Ploy Song, the manager, told me a little bit about her journey to citizenship and how difficult it really was to obtain a green card.
Ploy Song Chapman: It took me like almost a year to be able to get approved for a conditional green card.
Sophia McVige: Song thinks that this potential change may discourage immigrants from coming to the U.S. and applying for citizenship.
Chapman: It’s so hard for immigrants who move in to get the official paper. So to exclude it, it almost is just to discourage them from applying.
McVige: Congressman Mannion’s office did not comment on this, but a New York City Congresswoman, Grace Meng, has publicly opposed these efforts.
Sophia McVige, NCC News.