Want Immigration Reform? Look to Cities

Cities across the country are consistently, decisively, and increasingly leading with policies of migrant inclusion and integration.

There are over 244 million migrants in the world today, contributing 9.4 percent of global GDP. Since most immigrants live in metropolitan regions, cities big and small recognize their stake in this debate and are spearheading policies to promote social and economic integration of immigrants and refugees. The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, where I serve as director of global cities and immigration, has studied the economic impact of immigration for more than 10 years, offering nonpartisan solutions to address today’s realities and studying how cities can remain competitive in the global economy. When it comes to immigration, these two issues intersect.

While we prepare for the next federal-level showdown over immigration policy, cities can institute practical initiatives, many of which were recently highlighted at the 2017 National Immigrant Integration Conference. Here are nine ways to do it, both inside city limits and beyond.

Read the full article on CityLab’s website.