Here’s what gets lost: Racine’s undocumented residents aren’t an abstract policy problem. They’re part of this city’s foundation — economically, culturally, and historically. And if we’re going to talk about immigration honestly, we also need to speak honestly about crime, public safety, and how law enforcement actually interacts with immigrant communities. Because the fear narrative and the facts are two very different stories…
Here in Wisconsin, recent analyses estimate undocumented residents pay $200–$240 million each year in combined federal, state, and local taxes. That money supports schools, infrastructure, public safety, and the everyday systems politicians claim are overstressed. They’re also essential to our state’s workforce. According to UW–Madison’s School for Workers:
- About 10,000 undocumented workers make up roughly 70% of Wisconsin’s dairy labor.
- Roughly 73,900 undocumented residents live in the state.
That’s not a “drain.” That’s economic architecture.