Data

Links to Accurate Information about Immigrants and Refugees

Immigrants and Crime

Immigrants and Use of Public Benefits

Immigrant Integration

Immigrant Statistics

Unauthorized/Undocumented Immigrants

*If you need more specific information on refugee placement in Washington State, we recommend going to the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance Data page of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services.

Seattle City Council requested that OIRA conduct a study to explore the feasibility of establishing services in the city of Seattle for internationally-educated immigrants and refugees who are seeking professional occupations in the U.S. This report examines the state of the immigrant and refugee workforce and explores a range of issues including underemployment, the occupational and wage structure of the Seattle-King County workforce, and changing patterns of job mobility.

Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges

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Through an analysis of existing data, community-centered focus groups, and a series of one-on-one interviews, the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) commissioned this report titled, "Voices of Seattle's East African Communities." Consultant Aileen Balahadia facilitated this community-driven process with these goals:

  1. To inform and guide OIRA and the City of Seattle in order to better analyze policy and to improve services and support to the city's diverse East African communities.
  2. To inform and guide community-based organizations (CBOs) serving East African individuals in their ability to more efficiently and effectively serve their communities, particularly in today's nonprofit climate.
  3. To educate and inform community, public, and private partners of the current issues and opportunities in East African communities.

The report serves as a common framework from which both the community and the City of Seattle can work towards collective action. The white paper will inform city departments as they develop unique workplans specific to East African community needs. 

Cover of the East African report.

The entire 78-page report.		 Cover of the East African report executive summary.

The 8-page executive
summary of the report.

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This data snapshot of Seattle's immigrant and refugee community lists a number of important statistics regarding the city's new arrivals and new Americans.

Icon for the Immigrant and Refugee Data Sheet Snapshot

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The Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA) worked with Latino Decisions in 2016 to develop and launch the Seattle Votes Survey campaign, which anonymously collected civic engagement data from 5,566 immigrant and refugee residents, the first such data for any city in the U.S. and one of the largest data sets in the country. The reports and links to data are below:

Report on the entire dataset:
Seattle Votes Survey Results: Immigrant Civic Engagement in Seattle-King County

Reports disaggregated by immigrant/refugee community subsets:
Seattle Votes Survey Results: Asian American Community

Seattle Votes Survey Results: East African Community

Seattle Votes Survey Results: Latino Community 
NOTE: As of June 4, 2018, the Latino Community report is revised from the original version. Tania Hino's interview contained incorrect information in the original report.

Seattle Votes Slideshow Presentation:
OIRA Presentation Seattle Votes 2018 FINAL.pdf

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Seattle Votes Survey raw data:
data.seattle.gov/Community/Seattle-Votes-Survey-Data-from-5-224-immigrant-and/y5cf-gy2p

Released in 2015, the City of Seattle Immigrant Voting Task Force Report examined the issues that affect civic and political participation by immigrant communities in the City of Seattle. The City is working to ensure that immigrant residents are part of our vibrant democracy and is using innovative and community-driven ideas to overcome challenges to civic participation. This inclusive approach is highlighted in the creative and practical recommendations developed by the Immigrant Voting Task Force. This report led to the Seattle Votes Campaign, see above.

Immigrant Voting Task Force Report

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