South Asheville News

U.S. Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11) has introduced a bill called the No Representation Without Legal Immigration Act, which aims to prevent non-U.S. citizens from being counted in the population totals used to determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would nullify President Joe Biden's executive order, which allowed illegal immigrants and non-permanent residents to be included in the total population count.

According to Congressman Edwards, the No Representation Without Legal Immigration Act is a "commonsense solution to restore and strengthen our democracy." He believes that only American citizens should have the right to determine the number of congressional seats each state has. Edwards argues that congressional representation affects policies, people, and the course of the nation's history, and therefore it should accurately reflect the number of eligible voters in each state.

The introduction of this bill comes after a 2020 Pew Research study revealed the potential impact of excluding unauthorized immigrants from the population count. The study found that Texas, Florida, and California would each lose one congressional seat, while Alabama, Minnesota, and Ohio would each gain one seat.

The No Representation Without Legal Immigration Act has garnered support from organizations such as Heritage Action and the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

As the bill is introduced, it remains to be seen how it will be received by other lawmakers and the public. However, Congressman Edwards is hopeful that this legislation will contribute to a fair and accurate representation of American citizens in Congress.

Click this link to access more information: https://edwards.house.gov/media/press-releases/edwards-only-american-citizens-should-determine-representation-congress