Detroit's population grew for the second consecutive year in 2024. It was an amazing comeback after decades of population decline in Motorcycle City.

What explains turnover? One factor could be Detroit’s efforts to attract and address immigration.

These efforts continue despite a huge shift in national tone to newcomers. This includes the second Trump administration executive order targeting immigrant communities, international students and their universities, and cities where immigrants live.

We study urban geography and immigration integration. Despite these shifts in federal policy, our own research and other policies have found that local leaders in cities across the United States are actively working to bring immigrants into and help them become part of their local communities, often for economic reasons.

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

Detroit and other former immigration portal metropolitan areas such as Buffalo, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; St. Louis, Missouri experienced major immigration in the early 20th century. These population booms are followed by a period of decline in immigration.

Now, these cities are using brand strategies to build inclusive identities designed to attract and retain immigrants. It may be surprising to think of your own brand, but local governments often work with private nonprofits to shape and manage the image of their city. They try to establish a unique and ideal identity for the city, distinguish it from its competitors, and attract new businesses, residents and visitors in this way.

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

1. Encourage economic growth and attract talent

Research shows that immigration has a positive impact on the economy.

Local leaders in Detroit recognize that in the global economy, a prosperous industrial sector and a strong labor market are associated with the contribution of the immigrant community. They also learned that growth in these communities would have a positive economic ripple effect.

Immigration is more likely to have its own business than the average person. Organizations such as Detroit, Globally encourage entrepreneurship and provide resources for small businesses through programs such as the Global Talent Retention Program, Global Talent Accelerator and Global Entrepreneurs who live.

Immigration also meets labor demands, from high-tech fields such as engineering and research to manual labor, such as artificial labor fields such as construction and food services.

The City of Detroit Office of Immigration Affairs promotes economic development and immigrant integration through education, English as a second language program, empowering economics and community resources.

These efforts paid off by attracting immigrants to cities.

This economic impact has also expanded to the tourism industry. The area’s marketing activities include diversity, shaping how visitors perceive the area. The Detroit Metro Conference and Visitors Bureau focus on the unique experiences the city’s various communities offer visitors.

2. Enhance community and regional resilience

Regional resilience describes a region’s ability to withstand and adapt to challenges such as economic shocks and natural disasters. Cities like Detroit are still trying to learn from experience how critical it is.

Research shows that immigration contributes to regional resilience. In addition to supporting the local economy and strengthening the workforce, the arrival of Detroit immigration has helped offset the decline in locally born populations, stabilized the overall population and strengthened the local tax base.

According to our analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data, the Detroit-Warren-Dalborn area grew 1.2%, from 4,291,843 people in 2010 to 4,342,304 in 2023.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the local birth population in the Detroit metro area decreased by 58,693, while the foreign-born population increased by 109,154. The countries of origin of immigrants in the metro region are India, Iraq, Mexico, Yemen and Lebanon.

From 2023 to 2024, the population of the metropolitan area received 40,347 immigrants and lost 11,626 local residents, resulting in a population increase of 28,721.

The efforts to welcome immigration to Detroit and its surrounding communities contributed to this trend in the growth of immigrant population, offsetting the overall decline in the overall population.

3. Promote social cohesion and enhance civic participation

Successful local brands are rooted in inclusive and strong civil society. Detroit's rich cultural tapestries in areas such as Dearborn and Hamtramck create vibrant regional identity.

Organizations such as Detroit welcome Michigan actively support local grassroots efforts to build mutual respect and ensure immigrants can fully participate in the social, civic and economic structures of their hometowns.

Examples include Detroit’s social cohesion program, shared bonds, and community of opportunity. These initiatives help bring neighborhood residents from all backgrounds together to share their culture, support each other’s small businesses and socialize. Such a program strengthens the region’s democratic foundation and enhances its appeal as a passionate and inclusive place of residence.

Forge the way forward

Detroit has found that welcoming immigrants and integrating them into the lives of the city is a way to deal with the economic, political and cultural challenges it faces.

When accepting this strategy, it is not a single person. Other cities that implement similar strategies include Baltimore; Boise, Idaho; Charlotte, NC; Dallas; Dayton, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; New Orleans; Pittsburgh; Roanoke, Virginia; and Salt Lake City.

Although not all cities choose to adopt such strategies, in those cities, local leaders say to a region ready for a future of globalization.