Ohio representatives say immigrants shouldn't count in census, or toward seats in Congress

March 22, 2006

The Ohio House of Representatives has decisively passed a resolution stating that illegal immigrants and noncitizens should not be counted in the U.S. census when congressional seats are being determined. In March, members voted 71 to 24 for a resolution that backs a proposal in Washington to change the U.S. Constitution's 14th amendment.

Without the change, Ohioans will have a diminished voice in Washington, said State Rep. Kevin DeWine, a suburban Dayton Republican, who sponsored the House resolution.

While not allowed to vote, illegal immigrants and noncitizens are included in the census which is used to determine how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House.

Michigan Republican Rep. Candice Miller introduced a constitutional amendment in 2005 that would change the 14th amendment to allow only 'citizens' to be counted instead of 'persons.' The Ohio House is the first state legislative body to support the proposal.

The system in place now, which includes illegals in the count, benefits California, Texas and Florida, which have high numbers of illegal immigrants and noncitizens.

DeWine figures that Miller’s proposal is worth fighting for. If projections for the 2010 census hold true, Ohio would lose two congressional seats.

State Rep. Peter Ujvagi, a Toledo Democrat, whose family emigrated from Hungary in 1957 when he was 8, said he was saddened by the resolution, which he said smacks against American values. Ujvagi wondered why illegal immigrants and legal, green-carded noncitizens were lumped together in the resolution.

DeWine said a compelling argument could be made for separating the groups, but pushing Miller's proposal is Ohio's way of calling for a national debate on the topic and the need for U.S. immigration reform.

The resolution now heads to the Ohio Senate.