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 has found that local leaders in cities across the United States 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 thei