Immigration's impact to the city.
The Greater Detroit area is home to one of the largest, oldest and most diverse Arab American communities in the United States.
The first Arab Americans to immigrate to Detroit were the Syrian/Lebanese in the late I880’s. The early wave of Syrian/Lebanese sold goods door-to-door as peddlers and sought jobs in the auto factories when Henry Ford, the pioneering automobile entrepreneur offered $5.00 a day. A story has been told and passed for generations that a Yemeni sailor met Henry Ford in the early 1900’s. That early encounter began a chain migration of Yemenis to Detroit.
Among the most recent arrivals to Michigan’s Arab-American population are sizable numbers of Iraqi refugees. The majority of these refugees are Shi’a from the South and Kurds and others from Northern Iraq. They were expelled from Iraq and many of them found themselves in refugee camps in Turkey and in Saudi Arabia. The United States allowed approximately 3000 new Iraqi immigrants to the US following the first Gulf War, however today it is increasingly difficult for Iraqis to immigrate.
The first Arab Americans to immigrate to Detroit were the Syrian/Lebanese in the late I880’s. The early wave of Syrian/Lebanese sold goods door-to-door as peddlers and sought jobs in the auto factories when Henry Ford, the pioneering automobile entrepreneur offered $5.00 a day. A story has been told and passed for generations that a Yemeni sailor met Henry Ford in the early 1900’s. That early encounter began a chain migration of Yemenis to Detroit.
Among the most recent arrivals to Michigan’s Arab-American population are sizable numbers of Iraqi refugees. The majority of these refugees are Shi’a from the South and Kurds and others from Northern Iraq. They were expelled from Iraq and many of them found themselves in refugee camps in Turkey and in Saudi Arabia. The United States allowed approximately 3000 new Iraqi immigrants to the US following the first Gulf War, however today it is increasingly difficult for Iraqis to immigrate.
In despite According to the U.S. Census, the Michigan Arab American community grew by more than 65% between 1990 and 2000-more than double since 1980. Although it has grown increasingly difficult the amount of refugees and immigrants the state of Michigan takes in has doubled in recent years.
Michigan Arab American Nationality Groups
Nationality GroupPopulation Estimates
Lebanese/Syrian120,000
Iraqi/Chaldean100,000
Palestinian/Jordanian25,000
Yemeni15,000
Other15,000
(Outside greater Detroit)25,000
Total300,000
Nationality GroupPopulation Estimates
Lebanese/Syrian120,000
Iraqi/Chaldean100,000
Palestinian/Jordanian25,000
Yemeni15,000
Other15,000
(Outside greater Detroit)25,000
Total300,000
U.S. Arab American Population
Nationality Group/Population Estimates
Lebanese/Syrian1,600,000
Palestinian/Jordanian180,000
Egyptian360,000
Iraqi160,000
Moroccan100,000
Other600,000
Total3,000,000
Nationality Group/Population Estimates
Lebanese/Syrian1,600,000
Palestinian/Jordanian180,000
Egyptian360,000
Iraqi160,000
Moroccan100,000
Other600,000
Total3,000,000
Overall immigration population to Detroit 2001-2011
Having experienced economic troubles of epic proportions, Detroit could definitely use a new tourist destination. The city, an estimated $18-20 billion in debt, filed for bankruptcy in 2013 after decades of job losses due to the deteriorating U.S. automobile industry. It emerged from bankruptcy last December, but its financial future remains daunting.
In a recent video The Governor of Detroit Rick Snyder talks about the proposal he has for Detroit in its rise for immigration to rebuild the city.
Although this plan and proposal will be able to give great rebirth to the city what is not said is just how exactly how they're going to do such a thing. & Although Detroit welcomes these immigrants whats so special about Detroit that brings all these immigrants from overseas?
So how can we selectively allow in immigrants to Detroit? Regional visas. This would give states or regions their own visas to issue how they see fit. The state of Michigan could issue tens of thousands of worker visas for Detroit. The demand is there, all the government needs to do is find a way to let them in.
Importantly, immigrants who located in Detroit under this visa should be able to choose any employer in Detroit.
So how can we selectively allow in immigrants to Detroit? Regional visas. This would give states or regions their own visas to issue how they see fit. The state of Michigan could issue tens of thousands of worker visas for Detroit. The demand is there, all the government needs to do is find a way to let them in.
Importantly, immigrants who located in Detroit under this visa should be able to choose any employer in Detroit.
Many will think this is a radical experiment in "foreignizing" a city, but this is not the case. Detroit will not become Beijing or some radical experiment of a wholly foreign U.S. city. In fact it can help make Detroit more similar to successful U.S. cities. Right now, the population of New York City is 36.8% foreign born. In comparison, Detroit is only 5.1%. foreign born. This means Detroit would have to let in around 360,000 immigrants just to reach the percent foreign born of New York City.