2020 Census and Illegal Immigrants

 From the Encyclopedia Britannica:

"Granting slaveholding states the right to count three-fifths of their population of enslaved individuals when it came to apportioning representatives to Congress meant that those states would thus be perpetually overrepresented in national politics. However, this same ratio was to be used to determine the federal tax contribution required of each state, thus increasing the direct federal tax burden of slaveholding states."

Replace the word "slaves" with "illegal immigrants" and the exact same argument is taking place right now with the 2020 Census. The abolitionists (the conservatives) don't want illegals counted, the pro-slavery (liberals) DO want them counted for purposes of representation.

But conservatives wouldn't have a problem with counting them (while liberals would) if it increased the federal tax burden on states with high numbers of illegals (sanctuary states).

How about we resolve it the same way the Founders did - count illegals as three-fifths of a person, and call it a day?

Oh, and if you're wondering why the Constitution doesn't mention how to handle illegal immigrants in the census counts, it is because there was no such thing as an illegal immigrant for the first century of this country's existence.  The Constitution does not list the ability to restrict immigration among the enumerated powers possessed by the federal government. Thus, technically, the power to restrict immigration is reserved to the states. There was no federal law restricting immigration until 1875's Page Act. That means it took almost a century for Congress to violate the Constitution, usurp states' rights and create an unconstitutional federal restriction on immigration. Congress had to wait until the Founding Fathers had all been dead several decades before they dared make this over-reach.

Addendum:

“When foreigners after looking about for some other Country in which they can obtain more happiness, give a preference to ours, it is a proof of attachment which ought to excite our confidence and affection.”   ~ Benjamin Franklin

"I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural; and this will be as long as there shall be vacant lands in any part of America. when they get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, they will become corrupt as in Europe."  ~Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, Paris Dec. 20. 1787.           

NB: The United States was 80% agricultural in 1789, today it is 80% urban.