JANUARY 16 • 2020 | 17
I
mmigration issues, favorable
and not, have cropped up
periodically in American
history, according to Melanie
Goldberg, legal director at
Justice for our Neighbors
Michigan, an immigrant agen-
cy of the United Methodist
Church.
“Go back in time and you
can see we have periodically
welcomed immigrants and then
had reactions against immigra-
tion,
” she says. “The ebb and
flow of immigration has to do
with economics — internal and
external — and politics.
“In the 19th century, the U.S.
imported immigrants from
China and elsewhere in the Far
East to work on building the
railroads. Then, in 1882, came
the Asian Exclusion Act. The
U.S. suddenly decided we did
not want immigration from the
Far East.
”
Today, the federal government
strives to cut immigration.
Steve Tobocman, executive
director of Global Detroit, a
nonprofit cor-
poration that
seeks to revitalize
Michigan’
s econo-
my by strengthen-
ing local ties with
the international
economy, outlines
how the Trump
administration has worked to
restrict immigration.
Contrary to the belief that
federal policy primarily aims to
restrict undocumented aliens,
Tobocman notes policies that
restrict other categories as well.
Businesses have had increasing
difficulty getting H-1B visas
for highly skilled workers,
though officially the total num-
ber available has not changed.
Administrative burdens have
imposed delays and increased
legal fees on industries that
depend on these workers for
needs unmet in the local job
market, according to Tobocman.
The U.S., by law and by treaty,
has an obligation to provide
refuge for those who seek asy-
lum from legitimate threats. In
2016, the Obama administra-
tion raised the annual quota
for refugees to be accepted by
the U.S. to 110,000. Since then,
Tobocman notes, President
Trump has lowered the quota.
Last year, the quota was set at
30,000, with 23,000 accepted.
This year, the Trump admin-
istration has set a new quota,
reduced to 18,000.
Other restrictions include the
Trump administration’
s plans
to revoke the DACA program,
which protects residents brought
to America as children. The
program is still in place for
those already registered. After
2020, the administration has
pledged not to accept renewals.
Residents who apply for driver’
s
licenses or work authorizations
face the danger of deportation
for themselves or for their fami-
ly members.
Tobocman, however, offers
evidence immigrants benefit the
regional economy. “
According
to research conducted by Global
Detroit, refugees and other
immigrants have added some
$250 million to the regional
economy in the past 10 years. A
cut of about 75 percent in immi-
gration, which we currently
experience, promises to weaken
our economy proportionally.
”
He provides a long list of
actions by the state of Michigan,
by county and municipal gov-
ernments, to welcome and
integrate immigrants into the
economy. Private foundations
coordinate with the govern-
ments to provide funding for
these efforts. “While the present
administration has sought to
close our borders, Southeast
Michigan has become more
welcoming and inclusive to
immigrants and refugees than
ever before — and has become
a national leader in this regard,
”
he says.
Sara Allyn, executive director
of Repair the World Detroit, a
Jewish organization that encour-
ages volunteer service, explains
how Repair tries to help people
who directly experience the
effects of anti-immigrant poli-
cies.
“
At Repair the World, we
work closely with communities
experiencing the immediate and
terrifying impact of our current
climate,
” she says. “While there
are many ways to take action
as a Jewish community, Repair
believes meaningful service,
combined with learning and
self-reflection, promotes action
and change.
“By serving alongside impact-
ed communities, we listen, learn
and build relationships to truly
understand what people need
Steve
Tobocman
LOUIS FINKELMAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
continued on page 19
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LEFT: The Birmingham Temple in
Farmington Hills declared itself a
sanctuary in 2017 and became part of
the Sanctuary Network of Michigan.
Local Reactions
U.S. immigration policy stirs controversy, sparks action.