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By Paul N. McDaniel and Darlene Xiomara Rodriguez, originally published at The Conversation

Detroit’s population grew in 2024 for the second year in a row. This is a remarkable comeback after decades of population decline in the Motor City.

What explains the turnaround? One factor may be Detroit’s efforts to attract and settle immigrants.

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

We study urban geography and immigrant integration. Despite these federal policy shifts, our own research and that of others have 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.

Our recent publications on immigrant integration and immigrant community engagement show how and why cities adapt to changes in their population and economies.

Detroit and other former immigrant gateway metro areas such as Buffalo, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis experienced significant immigration in the early 20th century. These population booms were followed by a period of decline in immigration numbers.

Now these cities are using branding strategies to construct inclusive identities 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’s 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.

Here are three reasons why Detroit and other cities want to welcome immigrants:

1. Encouraging economic growth and attracting talent

Immigration has a positive impact on the economy, research shows.

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

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

Immigrants also fill labor needs, from high-tech fields such as engineering and research to manual labor sectors such as construction and food service.

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

These efforts are paying off by attracting immigrants to the city.

This economic impact extends to tourism as well. The region’s marketing campaigns embracing diversity shape how visitors perceive the region. The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau spotlights the unique experiences the city’s diverse neighborhoods offer to tourists.

To read the complete commentary, visit The Conversation.

About the Authors

Dr. Paul N. McDaniel is an Associate Professor of Geography in the Department of Geography and Anthropology at Kennesaw State University. Darlene Xiomara Rodriguez, PhD, MSW, MPA, CNP, is an Associate Professor of Social Work and Human Services who researches nonprofit and government agencies’ roles in facilitating immigrant integration.

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