Dive Brief:
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A $200 million Washington, DC, construction project backed by billionaire presidential candidate Donald Trump employs some undocumented workers, laborers at the luxury hotel's job site told The Washington Post this week.
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The controversial Trump, a real estate magnate and television star, became even more so last month when he referred to illegal Mexican immigrants as drug traffickers and rapists during a speech announcing his candidacy.
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In response to claims by The Post, the Trump Organization issued a statement saying the company’s hiring practices and work force comply with U.S. immigration laws. Lend Lease, the lead contractor for the conversion of the 114-year-old Old Post Office, which Trump owns, to Trump International Hotel, "requires all contractors performing work at the project to follow all applicable federal, state and local laws," according to the statement.
Dive Insight:
Most of the laborers on the construction crew at the building that was DC's s main post office in the early 20th century are from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. Some workers told The Post they came illegally to the U.S. via Mexico. Although many have since become U.S. citizens, a few have not, they said.
The Post quoted the workers as saying the job site has been buzzing with talk of Trump’s disparaging remarks, and that they fear his distaste for Mexican immigrants could cost them their jobs.
"He might come one day and pretty much tell us to get the heck out of here," a sheet metal worker from El Salvador, who is in the U.S. legally, told The Post.
