Democrats Fear ICE Could Cost Massachusetts a Seat in Congress

Each state has two U.S. Senators, but the number of U.S. Representatives varies based on the state's population. After every decennial census (every 10 years), House seats are reapportioned based on the count. Some states might pick up a seat, while others may lose one.

There are always 100 seats in the Senate and 435 in the House.

Larger states like California have more House seats (52), while smaller states like Rhode Island have fewer (two). Massachusetts currently has nine House seats.

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In addition to determining the number of congressional seats each state gets, U.S. Census Bureau data is used for redistricting states and allocating federal funds.

The next decennial census will be in 2030.

Some, such as The Heritage Foundation, believe that "Democratic-controlled states have gained congressional seats by welcoming and harboring illegal aliens." The group wants Congress to "put an end to the electoral influence of a growing non-citizen population."

Non-citizens, illegal aliens and homeless individuals are counted in the decennial census. The Heritage Foundation says, "This warped representation is carried over into the Electoral College."

Economic and political conditions, and perhaps even the weather, have contributed to a steady outmigration of people from Massachusetts since the last decennial census. A smaller population could result in the loss of a House seat.

Massachusetts is one of several states targeted by ICE, which has been pursuing and deporting criminal illegal immigrants. That could add to the problem.

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin recently told the Senate Committee on the census that some in the immigrant community are now less likely to cooperate with census takers.

State House News Service reported Galvin told the committee, "I think in the context of the Census it's going to leave scars. It's going to put fear, that people will be reluctant to say things and do things."

SHNS reported Galvin testified that some local school districts are seeing that the number of school-aged children is not accurately reflected because "parents are afraid to say - in some cases, to send them to school - but more, they're afraid to say where they live, what apartment they're in, that kind of thing."

Outmigration and an immigrant population that is reluctant to be counted could be problematic for Massachusetts and its ability to maintain nine seats in the House.