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U.S. NEWS Thursday 20 June 2019
Judge: New documents warrant further

look at census question

By JONATHAN DREW
Associated Press
A federal judge said
Wednesday that he's in-
clined to reexamine wheth-
er a proposed 2020 census
citizenship question violates
the rights of minorities after
reviewing newly discov-
ered documents from a
deceased political opera-
tive.
U.S. District Judge George
Hazel of Maryland ruled
that plaintiffs have pro-
duced enough evidence
to warrant reopening the
case, even though he al-
ready has ruled in their fa-
vor on other grounds. His
ability to consider altering
his ruling based on the new
evidence would depend
on a federal appeals court
returning it to him.
The U.S. Supreme Court is
expected to decide soon
whether the citizenship
question should be includ-
ed. It is unclear whether
Hazel's order might affect In this April 23, 2019 file photo, Immigration activists rally outside the Supreme Court as the justices
the high court case. hear arguments over the Trump administration's plan to ask about citizenship on the 2020 census,
Voting rights activists argue in Washington.
newly discovered emails Associated Press
between the late GOP
mapmaker Thomas Hofell- minute." ed the documents in New U.S. census for what would
er and a current Census Hazel had ruled in April to York federal court and at be the first time since 1950.
Bureau official show the block the addition of the the Supreme Court in their The high court could rule
citizenship question was in- citizenship question, but effort to keep the question by July.
tended to discriminate. found at the time that the off the 2020 census. Voting rights groups have
Hazel's brief ruling Wednes- voting rights activists failed Further review of the docu- argued that the citizenship
day, only several para- to prove their equal protec- ments last week uncovered question would serve to
graphs long, said he con- tion rights were violated. a January 2015 email ex- strengthen GOP congres-
cluded that the new evi- But the plaintiffs went back change between Hofeller sional representation and
dence "raises a substantial to court this month citing a and a current census offi- funding for areas where
issue" and granted a mo- new trove of Hofeller docu- cial discussing the issue of mostly Republicans reside
tion by the plaintiffs for ments, first revealed in late citizenship in regards to the by suppressing the count
another look at the equal May as part of a New York census, according to filings of immigrants. States with
protection issue. It wasn't case. They said the docu- before Hazel. large numbers of immi-
clear when he would issue ments showed that Hofeller The U.S. Supreme Court is grants tend to vote Demo-
a longer opinion explaining played a role in drafting currently considering the cratic.
his reasoning. Justice Department docu- citizenship question after The apportionment of con-
The Justice Department de- ments regarding the citi- Hazel's ruling and similar gressional seats is based
clined comment through zenship question, and that ones by judges in New York on a count of the total U.S.
a spokeswoman Wednes- Hofeller had explained in and California who con- population, including non-
day, but has previously a separate memo that the cluded the question was citizens, according to the
denied that the new docu- addition would help "Re- improperly added to the Census Bureau.q
ments show discriminatory publicans and Non-Hispan-
intent. ic Whites." were CAR RENTAL 5616944
The Commerce Depart- The documents
ment issued a statement discovered when his es- Address: Paramira #30 (Oranjestad) - Email: yessrentalcar@gmail.com - Website: www.yessrentalcar.com
Wednesday that it "strenu- tranged daughter found We Rent:
ously" disagrees with the four external computer Cars- Vans - SUV
ruling and called the plain- hard drives and 18 thumb
tiffs' use of the Hofeller drives in her father's Ra-
documents "a transparent leigh, North Carolina, home
ploy to derail the Supreme after his death last summer.
Court's consideration of this Challengers to the citizen-
case at the last possible ship question also have cit-