The highest US court will not stop the trial on the issue of citizenship of the census

(Reuters) – The US Supreme Court on Friday rejected President Donald Trump 's government' s request to halt a lawsuit scheduled to open on Monday that will test the lawfulness of the lawsuit. the government's controversial decision to ask people participating in the 2020 national census whether they are respected. citizens.

The judges announced the action in one order of one sentence. Three Conservative judges – Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch – said they would have accepted the request for an indefinite postponement of the trial. Brett Kavanaugh, Trump's new member of the nine-member court, did not say publicly how he voted.

The decision partly benefits the 18 states challenging the census citizenship issue, as such postponement would have made it impossible to resolve the dispute until the census forms were printed from next year.

The administration had argued that there should be no trial until the judges fought for evidence. This dispute includes the question of whether Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, whose department oversees the US Census Bureau, should be compelled to answer questions about his motives for a politically charged decision under oath.

Opponents of the citizenship issue said it would deter members of immigrant communities from participating in the census, disproportionately affecting the electoral representation of democratic states and federal funding by underestimating the number of residents.

Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood, who is part of state officials who are suing the government, said the Trump government had tried "all the tricks of the book" to block the case.

"You really have to wonder what they are trying to hide. We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court and look forward to litigating our case as we fight for a full and fair census, "Spitalnick said.

The US Department of Justice, which defends the administration, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The trial, which took place in federal court in New York, was scheduled in two trials. The first, led by Democratic leaders, was led by 18 states, as well as a number of cities and counties. The other was filed by several immigrant rights groups who accused the administration of discrimination against non-white immigrants.

The administration, explaining the issue of citizenship, said that it was necessary to have more accurate citizenship data in order to better enforce a law on the right to vote in order to protect minorities.

No census questions on citizenship status have been asked since 1950. The complainants have stated that, in recent decades, Census Bureau officials have objected to the addition of a citizenship question because of the risk involved. reduction of response rates and underestimation of the American population.

Manhattan District Judge Jesse Furman said in July that the plaintiffs "plausibly allege" that Ross's decision was motivated by discrimination.

Furman ruled in September that Ross was facing a lawsuit from state attorneys because "his intent and credibility are directly involved" in the lawsuit.

The Supreme Court subsequently blocked this order.

The United States Constitution provides for a census every 10 years. It is used for the distribution of congressional seats and the distribution of billions of dollars in federal funds.