Why the immigration numbers carry a political stake

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Non-citizens — including illegal immigrants — count in the decennial Census, which determines congressional apportionment (House seats), Electoral College shares, and the distribution of more than $2.8 trillion/yr in federal funding. Because that population concentrates in certain jurisdictions, there is a real, documented representation-and-funding stake tied to it — which is why some Republicans (the Hagerty/Cassidy bills) have moved to exclude illegal immigrants from the apportionment count. Source: U.S. Census Bureau / Urban Institute / Sen. Hagerty.