The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund released a statement from CEO Arturo Vargas on last night’s federal court ruling that both stops the 2020 Census count from ending early and suspends the end-of-year deadline for delivering apportionment data:

“NALEO Educational Fund applauds Judge Lucy Koh’s ruling, ordering the Census Bureau to continue counting our communities until October 31. In addition, her staying the December 31 legal deadline for the Census Bureau to deliver the apportionment counts is another positive development in the legal battle to salvage the census.

“Unfortunately, the ruling still leaves us with uncertainty and confusion over the reliability of the census, given that the Department of Justice will likely appeal the decision, and further court action may take time.

“The Census Bureau and the American people need certainty and a clear path to salvaging the 2020 Census. Congress must act immediately to move the statutory deadlines for delivering the apportionment counts and the redistricting data as the Trump Administration requested in April. The House acted on this request; the Senate must now follow.

“All of us together, Congress, the Administration, the Census Bureau, and the American people need to work in a consorted effort to save the 2020 Census, the foundation of our democracy.”