REPORT: Migrants Drive Washington’s Vibrant Food Industry
New study from Fwd.us highlights how 42,000 immigrant-owned businesses sustain local communities as ICE inspections raise industry alarms.
WASHINGTON — Immigrants are a cornerstone of Washington D.C.'s food and services industry, according to new data from FWD.us. In total, immigrants account for 253,000 workers, making up approximately 36% of the workforce in restaurants, hotels, and related sectors across the metro area. This includes 42,000 self-employed immigrant entrepreneurs running local food and services businesses.
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Notably, immigrant groups protected from deportation—such as DACA recipients, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, asylum seekers, and those awaiting permanent residency visas—hold roughly 35,000 positions within the industry, emphasizing their critical economic role.
Specifically, the report highlights 13,000 "Dreamers," undocumented immigrants who arrived as children, and 14,000 TPS holders currently employed in these sectors. Another 14,000 immigrants working in food and services are awaiting decisions on asylum claims.
Washington D.C. has long been a city defined by its diverse immigrant populations. Historically, waves of immigration have shaped the cultural, economic, and social landscape of the nation's capital, a city often perceived as transient due to its political nature and the constant influx of residents from elsewhere. According to the American Immigration Council, as of recent statistics, immigrants make up about 14% of the overall population in D.C. The largest groups originate from El Salvador, Ethiopia, and Mexico, contributing significantly to the city's vibrant multicultural identity.
These figures underscore the economic significance of immigrant communities amid heightened immigration enforcement activity, including recent ICE I-9 inspections at prominent D.C. restaurants, heightening concerns within the local service industry. Such enforcement actions have renewed attention to the essential roles immigrants play in sustaining local economies and communities, further highlighting the need for thoughtful immigration policy reform.
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