Missouri Dismissed Lawsuit Against Census Bureau

The state dropped its challenge after the Census Bureau proposed rules to exclude certain immigrants from counts.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Immigration

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing a geometric landmass outline and grid segments, representing US census policy changes. — Missouri dropped its lawsuit against the Census Bureau after federal officials proposed new rules excluding certain immigrants from apportionment counts. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should the federal government exclude certain non-citizens from population counts used for congressional apportionment?

Missouri officials have voluntarily dismissed a lawsuit against the Department of Commerce following a shift in federal census policy. The Census Bureau has proposed a rule that incorporates the state's legal arguments to exclude certain immigrants from apportionment.

Why it matters

The proposed rule represents a major change in how the government defines residence and allocates federal representation. By excluding non-permanent residents from the apportionment count, the Census Bureau aligns its methodology with the state of Missouri's recent legal challenge.

The Census Bureau proposed rule would exclude all immigrants except lawful permanent residents from the apportionment count. The proposal also mandates discontinuing the collection of race, ethnicity, and gender attributes during the census.

The players

Missouri

The state filed a lawsuit in January 2026 to challenge how the federal government determines apportionment counts.

Census Bureau

The federal agency is responsible for the decennial census and has proposed new rules regarding immigrant status and data collection.

Department of Commerce

This cabinet-level department oversees the Census Bureau and was the primary defendant in the state's dismissed lawsuit.

The details

The Census Bureau updated its definition of usual residence and proposed adding an immigration status question to the upcoming census. These modifications shift away from the policy established in 1980, which affirmed the counting of all residents, and end the practice of recording race and ethnicity that began in 1790.

Missouri filed the lawsuit against the Department of Commerce in January 2026.
A judge granted the request to dismiss the case on September 22, 2026.
The new methodology is expected to be implemented for the 2030 Census.

Political Context

Opponents of the rule, including various advocacy groups, have argued that the Census must remain a neutral tool for counting every person living in the country regardless of status. This move sparks intense debate over the constitutional mandate to count the total population for congressional seat apportionment.

Citizens may see significant changes to the decennial census form, including new questions regarding immigration status and the removal of traditional demographic fields. These shifts could ultimately impact how federal funds and congressional districts are allocated across the state.

The takeaway

This policy pivot highlights the ongoing tension between state-level legal strategies and federal census methodology. Residents should prepare for significant changes in how the government collects demographic information during the next decennial count.