The cabinet on Tuesday approved funding for the Census and the National Population Register (NPR), to be conducted next year. #India #WION #NPR #Census

Cabinet approves Census of India 2021 and NPR

The US Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a significant defeat on Thursday, ruling that his administration did not give an adequate explanation for its plan to include a contentious citizenship question on the 2020 census and preventing its addition to the decennial survey for now.&nbsp;

The justices - in a 5-4 decision with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the court`s four liberals in the majority and writing the ruling - upheld part of a federal judge`s ruling barring the question in a victory for a group of states including New York and immigrant rights organizations that had challenged the plan.

Opponents of the question have called it a Republican ploy to scare immigrants into not taking part in the population count.

As part of the ruling issued on the last day of the court`s current term, the justices sent the issue back to the Commerce Department for it to decide how to proceed. But the clock is ticking, as census forms have to be printed in the coming months.

Further muddying the waters, there is also ongoing litigation in lower courts over recently unearthed evidence that the challengers have said reveals an illegal discriminatory motive by the administration for adding the question, which the high court could yet weigh in on.&nbsp;

The court ruled against the challengers on other claims, with the nine justices splitting in different ways. The court ruled on a separate 5-4 vote with the conservative justices in the majority that the US&nbsp;Constitution does not in theory prevent the administration from adding a citizenship question.

Opponents have said the question would instill fear in immigrant households that the information would be shared with law enforcement, deterring them from taking part.&nbsp;

The census, required by the US Constitution, is used to allot seats in the US&nbsp;House of Representatives and distribute some $800 billion in federal funds.

The intent of the citizenship question, opponents said, is to manufacture a deliberate undercount of areas with high immigrant and Latino populations, costing Democratic-leaning regions seats in the House, benefiting Republicans and non-Hispanic whites.&nbsp;

The administration argued that adding a question requiring people taking part in the census to declare whether they are a citizen was needed to better enforce a voting rights law, a rationale that opponents called a pretext for a political motive.

Roberts said that under a US&nbsp;law called the Administrative Procedure Act, the federal government is required to give a reasoned explanation for its actions.

"Accepting contrived reasons would defeat the purpose of the enterprise," Roberts wrote.

Roberts said that the explanation provided by the government was "more of a distraction."

In a dissenting opinion, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the decision to add the citizenship question was "legally sound" and described the ruling against Trump as "an aberration."

The Republican president`s administration had appealed to the Supreme Court after lower courts blocked the inclusion of the census question. The Justice Department had previously told the Supreme Court it needed a final decision on whether the question could be added by the end of this month.

Setback for Trump

The ruling marked the first major setback for Trump in a ruling at the Supreme Court, although both of Trump`s appointees to the court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, voted in favor of his administration. Roberts was joined by liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

The Supreme Court had handed Trump some major victories since he took office in 2017, in particular a June 2018 ruling upholding his travel ban targeting people from several Muslim-majority countries. The court in January also let Trump`s policy barring many transgender people from the US military go into effect.&nbsp;

Manhattan-based US&nbsp;District Judge Jesse Furman ruled on January 15 that the Commerce Department`s decision to add the question violated the Administrative Procedure Act. Federal judges in Maryland and California also have issued rulings to block the question`s inclusion, saying it would violate the Constitution`s mandate to enumerate the population every 10 years.&nbsp;

Furman said the evidence showed that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross concealed his true motives for adding the question and that he and his aides had convinced the Justice Department to request a citizenship question.&nbsp;

Businesses also rely on census data to make critical strategic decisions, including where to invest capital. Citizenship has not been asked of all households since the 1950 census, featuring since then only on questionnaires sent to a smaller subset of the population.

The Census Bureau's own experts estimated that households corresponding to 6.5 million people would not respond to the census if the citizenship question were asked.&nbsp;

While only US citizens can vote, non-citizens comprise an estimated 7 per cent of the population.

Evidence surfaced in May that the challengers said showed that the administration`s plan to add a citizenship question was intended to discriminate against racial minorities.&nbsp;

Documents created by Republican strategist Thomas Hofeller, who died last year, showed that he was instrumental behind the scenes in instigating the addition of the citizenship question. He was an expert in drawing electoral district boundaries that maximize Republican chances of winning congressional elections.

Hofeller concluded in a 2015 study that asking census respondents whether they are American citizens "would clearly be a disadvantage to the Democrats" and "advantageous to Republicans and Non-Hispanic Whites" in redrawing electoral districts based on census data.

Hofeller suggested the voting rights rationale in the newly disclosed documents.

The Trump administration called the newly surfaced evidence "conspiracy theory."

Most people living in the United States will be asked to fill out the census, whether online or on paper, by March 2020.

The US Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a significant defeat on Thursday, ruling that his administration did not give an adequate explanation for its plan to include a contentious citizenship question on the 2020 census and preventing its addition to the decennial survey for now.

The US Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a significant defeat on Thursday, ruling that his administration did not give an adequate explanation for its plan to include a contentious citizenship question on the 2020 census and preventing its addition to the decennial survey for now. The justices - in a 5-4 decision with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the court`s four liberals in the majority and writing the ruling - upheld part of a federal judge`s ruling barring the question in a victory for a group of states including New York and immigrant rights organizations that had challenged the plan. Opponents of the question have called it a Republican ploy to scare immigrants into not taking part in the population count. As part of the ruling issued on the last day of the court`s current term, the justices sent the issue back to the Commerce Department for it to decide how to proceed. But the clock is ticking, as census forms have to be printed in the coming months. Further muddying the waters, there is also ongoing litigation in lower courts over recently unearthed evidence that the challengers have said reveals an illegal discriminatory motive by the administration for adding the question, which the high court could yet weigh in on. The court ruled against the challengers on other claims, with the nine justices splitting in different ways. The court ruled on a separate 5-4 vote with the conservative justices in the majority that the US Constitution does not in theory prevent the administration from adding a citizenship question. Opponents have said the question would instill fear in immigrant households that the information would be shared with law enforcement, deterring them from taking part. The census, required by the US Constitution, is used to allot seats in the US House of Representatives and distribute some $800 billion in federal funds. The intent of the citizenship question, opponents said, is to manufacture a deliberate undercount of areas with high immigrant and Latino populations, costing Democratic-leaning regions seats in the House, benefiting Republicans and non-Hispanic whites. The administration argued that adding a question requiring people taking part in the census to declare whether they are a citizen was needed to better enforce a voting rights law, a rationale that opponents called a pretext for a political motive. Roberts said that under a US law called the Administrative Procedure Act, the federal government is required to give a reasoned explanation for its actions. "Accepting contrived reasons would defeat the purpose of the enterprise," Roberts wrote. Roberts said that the explanation provided by the government was "more of a distraction." In a dissenting opinion, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the decision to add the citizenship question was "legally sound" and described the ruling against Trump as "an aberration." The Republican president`s administration had appealed to the Supreme Court after lower courts blocked the inclusion of the census question. The Justice Department had previously told the Supreme Court it needed a final decision on whether the question could be added by the end of this month. Setback for Trump The ruling marked the first major setback for Trump in a ruling at the Supreme Court, although both of Trump`s appointees to the court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, voted in favor of his administration. Roberts was joined by liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. The Supreme Court had handed Trump some major victories since he took office in 2017, in particular a June 2018 ruling upholding his travel ban targeting people from several Muslim-majority countries. The court in January also let Trump`s policy barring many transgender people from the US military go into effect. Manhattan-based US District Judge Jesse Furman ruled on January 15 that the Commerce Department`s decision to add the question violated the Administrative Procedure Act. Federal judges in Maryland and California also have issued rulings to block the question`s inclusion, saying it would violate the Constitution`s mandate to enumerate the population every 10 years. Furman said the evidence showed that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross concealed his true motives for adding the question and that he and his aides had convinced the Justice Department to request a citizenship question. Businesses also rely on census data to make critical strategic decisions, including where to invest capital. Citizenship has not been asked of all households since the 1950 census, featuring since then only on questionnaires sent to a smaller subset of the population. The Census Bureau's own experts estimated that households corresponding to 6.5 million people would not respond to the census if the citizenship question were asked. While only US citizens can vote, non-citizens comprise an estimated 7 per cent of the population. Evidence surfaced in May that the challengers said showed that the administration`s plan to add a citizenship question was intended to discriminate against racial minorities. Documents created by Republican strategist Thomas Hofeller, who died last year, showed that he was instrumental behind the scenes in instigating the addition of the citizenship question. He was an expert in drawing electoral district boundaries that maximize Republican chances of winning congressional elections. Hofeller concluded in a 2015 study that asking census respondents whether they are American citizens "would clearly be a disadvantage to the Democrats" and "advantageous to Republicans and Non-Hispanic Whites" in redrawing electoral districts based on census data. Hofeller suggested the voting rights rationale in the newly disclosed documents. The Trump administration called the newly surfaced evidence "conspiracy theory." Most people living in the United States will be asked to fill out the census, whether online or on paper, by March 2020.

US Supreme Court blocks Trump's census citizenship question, for now

Indian-American K P George was sworn in as the Fort Bend County Judge, becoming the first person from the community to hold the office of one of America's most diverse counties.

George, 53, a Democrat and Fort Bend Independent School District Board trustee, defeated Republican Judge Robert Hebert in November polls.

In the US, county judges' duties vary from state to state. Depending upon the size of the county, they perform a wide range of judicial and administrative duties.

The Fort Bend County has a sizeable population of Indian-Americans.

According to the latest census, Fort Bend is now the most diverse county in Texas, and among the most diverse in the country with 35 per cent Anglos, 24 per cent Hispanics, 21 per cent Asians and others; and 20 per cent African-Americans.

George, who hails from Kerala's Kakkodu city, said his father, a truck driver, earned only a couple of US dollars a day. He studied using a kerosene lamp.

He said that community engagement will be the top priority for his administration.

"I will continue spreading the word of county services and involving all people into the process. It is a historic moment for me as well as for the county.

"We will continue to have an open-door policy for the most diverse county which represents people who speak over 100 languages. We are here to represent each one of them and ensure a better place for residents and children of this county," George told PTI.

Rice University professor Mark Jones said George is now the most prominent Indian-American to hold an executive position in the US government.

George will govern a county with a larger population and a bigger budget than the Indian-American mayors of cities like Anaheim, California, and Hoboken, Jones said, adding that as a county judge, he wields more outright power than most mayors.

While in India, George grew up speaking Malayalam and lived in a straw-thatch hut. When he was 15, his family moved to a bigger city where he attended college.

After his graduation, he got a job in Mumbai, where for the first time he started speaking English. He worked in the Middle East before moving to New York in 1993 to work for a financial firm.

Later, he moved to Texas and has been living in the Fort Bend county ever since along with his family.

"I strongly believe that success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It is what you do for others," George said.

He first ran for office in 2010, hoping to be elected as the county treasurer.

"People asked me in Richmond and Rosenberg, 'Why are you running?' It's not easy for a person like me, brown in colour, with no political power, no name recognition. I'd say, 'Because I can. I'm not a felon. I'm a citizen.&nbsp;Thank you, USA! I hold your values close to my heart."

"I honestly believe this is the time for me to do public service rather than complain. I am taking responsibility to get involved and work for the US, the country that has given me everything I've dreamed of," George added.

K P George, 53, a Democrat and Fort Bend Independent School District Board trustee, defeated Republican Judge Robert Hebert in November polls.

Indian-American K P George was sworn in as the Fort Bend County Judge, becoming the first person from the community to hold the office of one of America's most diverse counties. George, 53, a Democrat and Fort Bend Independent School District Board trustee, defeated Republican Judge Robert Hebert in November polls. In the US, county judges' duties vary from state to state. Depending upon the size of the county, they perform a wide range of judicial and administrative duties. The Fort Bend County has a sizeable population of Indian-Americans. According to the latest census, Fort Bend is now the most diverse county in Texas, and among the most diverse in the country with 35 per cent Anglos, 24 per cent Hispanics, 21 per cent Asians and others; and 20 per cent African-Americans. George, who hails from Kerala's Kakkodu city, said his father, a truck driver, earned only a couple of US dollars a day. He studied using a kerosene lamp. He said that community engagement will be the top priority for his administration. "I will continue spreading the word of county services and involving all people into the process. It is a historic moment for me as well as for the county. "We will continue to have an open-door policy for the most diverse county which represents people who speak over 100 languages. We are here to represent each one of them and ensure a better place for residents and children of this county," George told PTI. Rice University professor Mark Jones said George is now the most prominent Indian-American to hold an executive position in the US government. George will govern a county with a larger population and a bigger budget than the Indian-American mayors of cities like Anaheim, California, and Hoboken, Jones said, adding that as a county judge, he wields more outright power than most mayors. While in India, George grew up speaking Malayalam and lived in a straw-thatch hut. When he was 15, his family moved to a bigger city where he attended college. After his graduation, he got a job in Mumbai, where for the first time he started speaking English. He worked in the Middle East before moving to New York in 1993 to work for a financial firm. Later, he moved to Texas and has been living in the Fort Bend county ever since along with his family. "I strongly believe that success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It is what you do for others," George said. He first ran for office in 2010, hoping to be elected as the county treasurer. "People asked me in Richmond and Rosenberg, 'Why are you running?' It's not easy for a person like me, brown in colour, with no political power, no name recognition. I'd say, 'Because I can. I'm not a felon. I'm a citizen. Thank you, USA! I hold your values close to my heart." "I honestly believe this is the time for me to do public service rather than complain. I am taking responsibility to get involved and work for the US, the country that has given me everything I've dreamed of," George added.

Indian-American takes oath as Fort Bend County Judge in Texas

The likely incoming Democratic chairman of the congressional panel overseeing the US census said on Tuesday he aims to pressure the Trump administration into removing a question about citizenship from the 2020 census questionnaire.

Representative Gerald Connolly said that when Democrats assume leadership of the House of Representatives in January, they plan to call Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to testify about the citizenship question, which has spurred criticism and lawsuits.

Ross earlier "lied to Congress" about why the question was added to the census, Connolly told Reuters in an interview.

"My hope is we get this question removed from the actual census," Connolly said in an interview with Reuters, saying he would seek to bring that about by calling the public`s attention to the issue.

"It`s not too late ... we have until June before the forms are finalised," he said.

Evidence produced by the committee could also be cited by courts investigating the matter, he said.

Ross announced the citizenship question in March, billing it as a way to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, which requires a tally of citizens of voting age to protect minorities against discrimination.

Critics have said the question could depress the response to the census from immigrants, who often live in Democratic-leaning areas. If undercounted, areas with high immigrant populations could lose seats in the House.

Numerous US states and cities have sued the administration to have the question removed, calling it unconstitutional.

US congressional elections last month gave Democrats control of the House starting in January. Connolly is expected to chair the government operations subcommittee, part of the House Oversight Committee.

Connolly and Representative Elijah Cummings, likely chairman of the full Oversight Committee, earlier this year questioned Ross` contention that the Commerce Department added the citizenship question at the request of the Justice Department, saying court documents indicated Commerce initiated the idea.&nbsp;

"Wilbur Ross has a problem. ... He told Congress previously that (the Justice Department) kind of made him do it. We now know that’s not true. ... That means you (Ross) lied to Congress about this," Connolly said Tuesday. "Why? If you are so confident in the importance of this question, why would you feel compelled to lie about it?" he said.

A Commerce Department spokesman said Ross had explained his rationale in March for including the citizenship question, and that nothing in the court documents subsequently produced "changes the sound rationale he articulated."

The likely incoming Democratic chairman of the congressional panel overseeing the US census said on Tuesday he aims to pressure the Trump administration into removing a question about citizenship from the 2020 census questionnaire.

The likely incoming Democratic chairman of the congressional panel overseeing the US census said on Tuesday he aims to pressure the Trump administration into removing a question about citizenship from the 2020 census questionnaire. Representative Gerald Connolly said that when Democrats assume leadership of the House of Representatives in January, they plan to call Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to testify about the citizenship question, which has spurred criticism and lawsuits. Ross earlier "lied to Congress" about why the question was added to the census, Connolly told Reuters in an interview. "My hope is we get this question removed from the actual census," Connolly said in an interview with Reuters, saying he would seek to bring that about by calling the public`s attention to the issue. "It`s not too late ... we have until June before the forms are finalised," he said. Evidence produced by the committee could also be cited by courts investigating the matter, he said. Ross announced the citizenship question in March, billing it as a way to help enforce the Voting Rights Act, which requires a tally of citizens of voting age to protect minorities against discrimination. Critics have said the question could depress the response to the census from immigrants, who often live in Democratic-leaning areas. If undercounted, areas with high immigrant populations could lose seats in the House. Numerous US states and cities have sued the administration to have the question removed, calling it unconstitutional. US congressional elections last month gave Democrats control of the House starting in January. Connolly is expected to chair the government operations subcommittee, part of the House Oversight Committee. Connolly and Representative Elijah Cummings, likely chairman of the full Oversight Committee, earlier this year questioned Ross` contention that the Commerce Department added the citizenship question at the request of the Justice Department, saying court documents indicated Commerce initiated the idea. "Wilbur Ross has a problem. ... He told Congress previously that (the Justice Department) kind of made him do it. We now know that’s not true. ... That means you (Ross) lied to Congress about this," Connolly said Tuesday. "Why? If you are so confident in the importance of this question, why would you feel compelled to lie about it?" he said. A Commerce Department spokesman said Ross had explained his rationale in March for including the citizenship question, and that nothing in the court documents subsequently produced "changes the sound rationale he articulated."

Lawmaker aims to get citizenship question removed from US census

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