A report published by The Bulwark alleges that the Trump administration is preparing new regulations for the decennial U.S.Census that could significantly change how certain immigrant populations are counted.

According to economics editor Catherine Rampell, a little-noticed regulatory filing submitted in June suggests the administration has drafted new census rules, although the full details have not yet been made public.

Based on conversations with people familiar with the process, the report claims the administration may attempt to classify millions of immigrants, including both undocumented and some legally present individuals, as not residing in the United States for census purposes.Critics argue that such a change would have major political consequences because census population totals determine the allocation of seats in the U.S.

House of Representatives, influence Electoral College votes, and affect the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funding for programs such as healthcare, housing, transportation, and other public services.

The article also notes that President Trump previously supported adding a citizenship question to the census during his first administration, an effort that became the subject of legal challenges.Thomas A.

Saenz, president and general counsel of the Latino civil rights organization MALDEF, is quoted as saying that previous attempts to alter census policy were unsuccessful because of administrative shortcomings, but he believes the current administration has become more effective at pursuing similar objectives.

The report emphasizes that the proposed regulatory process has received relatively little public attention despite the potentially significant legal and political implications if the anticipated rule changes are ultimately adopted.