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Civil‑liberties groups warn that current data‑sharing practices and federal enforcement are undermining trust in the census
Summary
ACLU of Massachusetts, immigrant‑serving groups and others told the Senate on Oct. 31 that recent federal enforcement and data‑sharing agreements (for example IRS and immigration agencies) have eroded immigrants’ willingness to participate in the census unless stronger privacy assurances and legal protections are in place.
Civil‑liberties and immigrant‑rights witnesses told the Senate Committee on the Census on Oct. 31 that the most serious barrier to a complete 2030 count is fear: fear that personal information collected for the census could be accessed by immigration enforcement.
"As of August 2025, the president has directed strategically erase millions of people from The U.S. Census," Tracy Griffith, director of the ACLU‑Massachusetts’ Civil Rights program, told the committee. Griffith and other witnesses said congressional bills, administrative actions and data‑sharing agreements announced since 2021 have substantially increased distrust among immigrant communities.
Why it matters: Census participation depends on trust that personal answers are used only for statistical purposes. Witnesses reported specific local consequences: people not attending school or work, lower participation in community programs, and outright refusal to answer door knockers or phone calls.
Privacy proposals: Witnesses asked the committee to (1) press for state and intergovernmental safeguards, (2) fund public education explaining what the Census Bureau can and cannot share, and (3) convene technical experts on differential privacy and encryption to advise state practice. Several witnesses recommended a bipartisan state commission or technical advisory group to evaluate risks and recommend mitigations.
Legal context: Witnesses referenced the Supreme Court litigation over the 2020 citizenship question (the administration’s attempt was blocked in 2019) and discussed renewed legislative efforts and policy proposals that would exclude non‑citizens from redistricting counts. Advocates said the state should be prepared to respond rapidly to proposed federal changes that could further depress participation.
Source: Testimony by Tracy Griffith (ACLU‑MA), Amy Grunder (MIRA), Patricia Solvallvaro and multiple immigrant‑serving groups at the Oct. 31 hearing.
