Unauthorized immigrant population in WA has grown, report says. Here’s how much

OLYMPIA — Washington’s unauthorized immigrant population grew by 25 percent between 2021 and 2023, a new report estimated.

That’s in line with national numbers for that group, which “reached an all-time high” in 2023 following “two consecutive years of record growth,” the Pew Research Center said.

The nonpartisan center released a report Aug. 21 that provides a view of immigration in the U.S. in recent years — as federal immigration policies have shifted, presidential administrations have changed, and polarizing national debate has continued.

The report, based on federal data, focuses largely on numbers from 2023, which are “the most recent available for developing a comprehensive and detailed estimate,” per the research center.

However, the report also sheds some light on the current