{"id":39591,"date":"2025-05-30T13:45:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-30T13:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/?p=39591"},"modified":"2025-05-31T06:11:02","modified_gmt":"2025-05-31T06:11:02","slug":"detroits-population-grew-in-2023-2024-%e2%88%92-a-strategy-to-welcome-immigrants-helps-explain-the-turnaround-from-decades-of-population-decline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifeandnews.com\/articles\/detroits-population-grew-in-2023-2024-%e2%88%92-a-strategy-to-welcome-immigrants-helps-explain-the-turnaround-from-decades-of-population-decline\/","title":{"rendered":"Detroit\u2019s population grew in 2023, 2024 \u2212 a strategy to welcome immigrants helps explain the turnaround from decades of population decline"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Paul N. McDaniel<\/a>, Kennesaw State University<\/a><\/em> and Darlene Xiomara Rodriguez<\/a>, Kennesaw State University<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detroit\u2019s population grew in 2024<\/a> for the second year in a row. This is a remarkable comeback<\/a> after decades of population decline in the Motor City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What explains the turnaround? One factor may be Detroit\u2019s efforts to attract and settle immigrants<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These efforts continue despite a dramatic national shift in tone toward new arrivals. This includes executive orders<\/a> from the second Trump administration targeting immigrant communities<\/a>, international students<\/a> and their universities<\/a>, and cities in which immigrants live<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We study urban geography<\/a> and immigrant integration<\/a>. Despite these federal policy shifts, our own<\/a> research<\/a> and that of others has found that local leaders in cities across the U.S. are actively working to bring immigrants in and help them become part of local communities, generally for economic reasons<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our recent publications on immigrant integration<\/a> and immigrant community engagement<\/a> show how and why cities adapt to changes in their population and economies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Detroit and other former immigrant gateway metro areas<\/a> such as Buffalo, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and St. Louis, Missouri experienced significant immigration in the early 20th century. These population booms were followed by a period of decline in immigration numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now these cities are using branding strategies to construct inclusive identities<\/a> designed to attract and retain immigrants. It may be surprising to think of a city branding itself, but local governments often work with private nonprofits to shape and manage their city\u2019s image. They try to build a unique and desirable identity for the city, differentiate it from competitors, and attract new businesses, residents and tourists this way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are three reasons why Detroit and other cities want to welcome immigrants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Encouraging economic growth and attracting talent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Immigration has a positive impact on the economy<\/a>, research shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local leaders in Detroit<\/a> recognize<\/a> that in a global economy, a thriving industrial sector and robust labor market are linked to the contributions of immigrant communities<\/a>. They also understand that the growth of these communities brings positive economic ripple effects<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immigrants are more likely than the general population to own their own businesses<\/a>. Organizations such as Global Detroit<\/a> encourage entrepreneurship through programs such as the Global Talent Retention Initiative<\/a>, Global Talent Accelerator<\/a> and Global Entrepreneur in Residence<\/a> and provide resources for small businesses<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immigrants also fill labor needs<\/a>, from high-tech fields such as engineering and research to manual labor sectors such as construction and food service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The City of Detroit Office of Immigrant Affairs<\/a> promotes economic development and immigrant integration through education<\/a>, English as a second language programs, economic empowerment<\/a> and community resources<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These efforts are paying off<\/a> by attracting immigrants to the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This economic impact extends to tourism as well. The region\u2019s marketing campaigns embracing diversity shape how visitors perceive the region. The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau spotlights the unique experiences the city\u2019s diverse neighborhoods offer<\/a> to tourists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Enhancing community and regional resilience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Regional resilience<\/a> describes a region\u2019s ability to withstand and adapt to challenges such as economic shocks and natural disasters. Cities like Detroit that are still trying to bounce back from deindustrialization know from experience how critical this is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immigration contributes to regional resilience<\/a>, research shows. In addition to supporting local economies and strengthening the labor force, the arrival of immigrants in Detroit has helped offset native-born population decline, stabilizing the overall population and bolstering local tax bases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to our analysis of U.S. Census Bureau<\/a> data, the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn metro area grew by 1.2%, from a total population of 4,291,843 in 2010<\/a> to 4,342,304 in 2023<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates<\/a>, the Detroit metro area\u2019s native-born population decreased by 58,693 people during that 13-year period, while the foreign-born population increased by 109,154. The top five countries of origin<\/a> for immigrants in the metro area are India, Iraq, Mexico, Yemen and Lebanon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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