Recent immigration trends in Southeast Michigan

During most of the twentieth century, southeast Michigan was portrayed in scholarly research and the popular media as black and white. While the region has a rich history of international immigration prior to 1950, the post-war years have focused on the large migration from the American south and the resulting interaction between African Americans and Caucasians in the workplace and community. While Detroit was not a gateway city for immigrants, secondary migration flows continued to add to the first- and second-generation base. The unprecedented immigration flows that the country experienced during the 1990s have also been experienced in metropolitan Detroit, resulting in monumental changes in the diversity structure of the region. This expanded base now serves as a base for continued growth in the future. However, little is known about the groups that will make a significant contribution to the growth of the region. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of recent immigration trends in southeast Michigan and the socioeconomic diversity associated with these groups.