Los Angeles Files Lawsuit to Stop Trump Administration from Sabotaging the U.S. Census

Media Courtesy of City of Los Angeles

Dan Fritz | KPFK

L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer Tuesday announced a lawsuit against the Trump administration over a decision to move the 2020 U.S. Census response deadline to the end of September.

In April, near the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Census Bureau extended the deadline to the end of October. Many political leaders in hard-to-count areas, including Los Angeles, had called for even more time due to the disruption caused by the pandemic. But earlier this month, the bureau shortened the deadline.

L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer accused the Trump administration of ensuring an undercount by implementing a rush plan.

"The rush plan is unconstitutional. The rush plan violates federal law. The rush plan is a recipe for a severe undercount with repercussions that will last for years,'' Feuer said.

Los Angeles was joined in the lawsuit by other cities, counties and civil rights groups, including the League of Women Voters, National Urban League, Black Alliance for Immigration and the city of San Jose.

Earlier this month, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors authorized its own lawyers to challenge the Trump administration's effort to not count undocumented immigrants.