“We’re going to build a wall,” President Donald Trump said at his first White House press conference. Given the controversial talking point from his campaign is now a national promise, here are a few things worth knowing:
[asset-pullquotes[{"quote": "1. The population of undocumented immigrants is rising in Washington and a handful of other states.", "style": "wide"}]]Not one of those states will touch the proposed border wall.
[asset-pullquotes[{"quote": "2. Of the estimated 250,000 undocumented immigrants living in Washington state, most are from Mexico.", "style": "wide"}]][asset-images[{"caption": "", "fid": "132877", "style": "placed_wide", "uri": "public://201701/Viz-UnauthorizedOrigin-draft1.jpg", "attribution": "Credit KUOW Graphic/Kara McDermott"}]]
[asset-pullquotes[{"quote": "3. If you have a child in public school, you probably know someone who has immigrated here illegally. An elementary school classroom has on average two students with an undocumented parent.", "style": "wide"}]]
[asset-images[{"caption": "", "fid": "132460", "style": "placed_wide", "uri": "public://201612/Viz-UnauthorizedParent-draft2_0.jpg", "attribution": "Credit KUOW Graphic/Kara McDermott"}]]
[asset-pullquotes[{"quote": "4. About 5 percent of Washington state's workforce doesn't have the right to work here.", "style": "wide"}]]
[asset-pullquotes[{"quote": "5. Many of these workers pick our fruit and vegetables and hang our drywall.", "style": "wide"}]][asset-images[{"caption": "", "fid": "132879", "style": "placed_wide", "uri": "public://201701/Viz-UnauthorizedIndustry-draft2.jpg", "attribution": ""}]]
[asset-pullquotes[{"quote": "6. And, yes, they pay taxes. On average, an estimated 10.8 percent of their income goes to state and local taxes.", "style": "wide"}]]An average Washington resident pays 8.9 percent (source: taxfoundation.org).
Data visuals by Kara McDermott.
KUOW is reporting on how this administration affects immigrants and refugees in our state. Have a question or story idea? Contact us.
