Undocumented Immigrant Population in Washington Grows to 325,000, Pew Says

(WASHINGTON) The undocumented immigrant population in Washington state has climbed to an estimated 325,000, according to new tallies and policy reviews current as of late August 2025. The increase — up from earlier estimates like 240,000 in 2016 — comes as federal enforcement grows more aggressive under President Trump while Washington maintains some of the country’s strongest state-level protections.

Community groups, colleges, and state agencies say the mixed signals are reshaping daily life for families, students, and workers across the state. State analysts point to the 2022 American Community Survey and related modeling to explain the jump. Washington now has about 1.2 million immigrants overall, including 619,000 non-citizens.

The larger immigrant share reflects long-running labor needs in agriculture, hospitality, construction, and services, where employers rely on both documented and undocumented workers to fill shifts. VisaVerge.com reports that Washington’s upward trend mirrors patterns in several West Coast and Mountain West states where job growth and family ties continue to draw newcomers.

Population and economic picture

Researchers working with state policy organizations estimate that Washington’s undocumented immigrant population stands at about 325,000 as of mid-2024. Advocates note this estimate is more current and methodologically consistent than older figures, which helps governments and schools plan better.

Colleges in Washington counted more than 12,000 undocumented students in 2024, underlining that many affected residents are long-settled youths preparing for careers.

The fiscal footprint:
– Undocumented residents paid nearly $1 billion ($997 million) in state and local taxes in 2022, according to policy analysts who reviewed sales, property (often paid through rent), and income-related taxes.
– Those revenues support schools, roads, and local services that benefit all residents.
– Business groups warn those dollars would shrink if large-scale deportation begins, creating budget worries for local leaders in cities and farm towns alike.

Labor force participation and sector impacts:
– Immigrant labor force participation: ~70.4% versus 62.6% for U.S.-born workers.
– Immigrants hold roughly 20% of all jobs in the state while making up about 18% of the working-age population.
– Sector highlights:
– Cooks: immigrants comprise 28% of cooks in Washington.
– Crop production: nationally, more than 50% of workers are immigrants; many in Washington’s fields are undocumented or on temporary visas.
– Construction: tens of thousands of workers are immigrants, with a notable share likely lacking status.

Economic risk estimate:
– Economists warn that losing just 10% of the undocumented labor pool could cost the state about $100 million per year in lost state and local tax revenue, plus broader labor shortages.
– Potential effects include disruptions at packing facilities, altered harvest schedules, reduced restaurant hours, and slowed apartment construction — with ripple effects for both rural and urban communities.

Policy climate and enforcement

The federal government’s stance shifted in early 2025. The new administration rescinded the 2021 guidance that directed immigration officers to avoid enforcement near “sensitive locations” like schools, hospitals, and places of worship. While that earlier guidance remains posted for historical context on DHS’s website, the current policy line invites more enforcement latitude.

Readers can review the archived framework at the DHS resource on protected areas:
Department of Homeland Security – Protected Areas Guidance

State-level protections:
– Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act (KWW), first passed in 2019 and reaffirmed with updated guidance in 2025, restricts how state and local agencies interact with federal immigration enforcement.
– Under KWW:
– Police and sheriffs cannot carry out civil immigration enforcement activities.
– Schools, public hospitals, and other agencies must follow model policies aimed at reducing fear and protecting residents’ rights.
– State agencies generally cannot share personal data with federal immigration authorities unless a court orders it or federal law requires it.

State services and campus responses:
– The Department of Social and Health Services says undocumented residents remain eligible for certain state programs — cash help, food aid, and medical assistance — without fear that their private information will be sent to federal agencies unless the law compels disclosure.
– Colleges and universities have updated campus protocols and support services, noting students feel greater anxiety since the 2025 federal posture change.
– Community organizations, legal aid groups, and faith networks report increased requests for help with family plans, guardianship forms, and emergency contacts for children.

Practical community guidance emerging from groups:
– Advise against non-essential travel, especially near airports and transportation hubs.
– Urge people without status to keep key documents in a safe place.
– Recommend seeking a legal review for options that may exist through marriage, employment, asylum eligibility, or long-time presence.

Federal proposals and concerns:
– Federal officials are weighing wider steps later this year, including:
– Tougher standards for family-based immigration and asylum.
– A broader push to remove people with final orders.
– Possible changes to visa programs and increased denaturalization work.
– Additional hurdles to the citizenship process.
– Immigration lawyers say such measures, if enacted, could heighten risk for mixed-status families and push more noncitizens into the shadows, including those with pending cases or temporary protections.

Washington’s ongoing response:
– The Attorney General’s Office continues issuing guidance to state and local agencies on following KWW while obeying valid federal court orders.
– County executives and mayors emphasize local safety and access to essential services, not federal civil immigration enforcement.
– Business owners, especially in agriculture and hospitality, press for clarity — warning sudden enforcement surges could damage seasonal harvests and force closures during peak travel periods.

What residents can do now

With the undocumented immigrant population roughly 325,000, counselors and attorneys across Washington urge practical steps to reduce daily risk and bring peace of mind:

1. Know your rights.
   • Under KWW, state and local law enforcement cannot conduct civil immigration enforcement.
   • Ask if you’re free to leave. You can remain silent. You may ask for a lawyer before answering questions.
2. Keep documents ready.
   • Store passports, birth certificates, school records, medical records, and immigration papers in a safe, easy-to-reach place.
   • Share a copy with a trusted relative or friend.
3. Create a family plan.
   • Decide who will pick up children from school if you’re delayed.
   • List emergency contacts.
   • If possible, sign limited powers of attorney for childcare and finances.
4. Avoid unneeded travel.
   • Community groups advise against trips that aren’t essential, especially near federal-enforcement zones.
5. Seek a legal review.
   • An immigration attorney can review options such as family- or employment-based petitions, U visas (crime victims), T visas (trafficking victims), asylum, Temporary Protected Status, or registry.
   • Even small facts — like a qualifying marriage or a clean criminal record — can change outcomes over time.
6. Use state services when eligible.
   • Keep medical appointments, food aid, and other assistance. Agencies generally cannot share your information with federal immigration authorities without a court order or clear legal requirement.

Support on campuses and from law enforcement:
– Washington’s colleges are expanding help desks for undocumented and mixed-status students, posting contact points, connecting students to emergency funds, and offering mental health support.
– Police departments and sheriffs’ offices continue to state that crime victims and witnesses should report incidents, regardless of immigration status — local safety depends on cooperation from everyone.
– Legal groups emphasize seeking help early rather than waiting until a case becomes urgent.

Employer concerns:
– Agriculture leaders warn losing even a fraction of seasonal workers would make timely harvests difficult.
– Restaurant owners say staffing shortages could worsen, raising wait times and prices.
– Construction firms point to housing shortages and warn fewer workers could slow projects statewide.

Outlook and stakes

For now, the policy split is stark: tougher federal enforcement on one side, and strong state protections on the other. Families face daily questions — Can I bring my child to class? Is it safe to visit a clinic? — and are seeking reliable information.

Attorneys expect additional federal rules or executive actions affecting asylum screenings, worksite audits, and processing backlogs. If enacted, these could reshape case timelines and public interactions with officers in the field.

Washington’s Attorney General has signaled the state will continue defending KWW and related policies while agencies update guidance for schools, hospitals, and local governments.

The stakes extend beyond immigration paperwork. They tie to who teaches in classrooms, who harvests fruit, who cooks in restaurants, and who builds housing. The coming year will test whether the system can balance federal enforcement priorities with the rights, safety, and economic realities of hundreds of thousands of Washington residents.