Michigan House Bill HR0227

Michigan 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/23/24
• Refer: 4/23/24

Caption

A resolution to urge Congress to pass legislation requiring the exclusion of illegal immigrants when apportioning seats in the United States House of Representatives.

Impact

The resolution highlights a significant policy reversal that occurred when President Biden repealed a directive from President Trump that aimed to exclude illegal immigrants from the apportionment base. This change is depicted as detrimental to the fairness of the apportionment process. The bill asserts the need for integrity in representation, arguing that including illegal immigrants could lead to skewed congressional seat distributions favoring areas with high concentrations of undocumented populations. This could, in turn, facilitate partisan manipulation of congressional districts.

Summary

House Resolution 227 (HR0227) urges Congress to pass legislation requiring the exclusion of individuals who are in the country illegally when apportioning seats in the United States House of Representatives. The resolution is driven by concerns regarding the impact of illegal immigration on the census and subsequent representation in congress. It argues that including illegal immigrants in the census population count distorts political representation, particularly as large numbers of illegal immigrants concentrate in specific metropolitan areas, potentially allowing them to wield disproportionate political influence.

Contention

The discussions surrounding HR0227 indicate a deep divide over how illegal immigration should influence political representation. Supporters of the resolution contend that excluding illegal immigrants from the census would ensure a more accurate reflection of legal residents, thereby upholding democratic values. In contrast, opponents argue that this exclusionary approach fails to recognize the complexities of immigration and population dynamics and that representation should include all residents, irrespective of their legal status. The resolution thus raises substantial questions about the principles of representation and fairness in the political process.