 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

BIRMINGHAM TEMPLE FACEBOOK

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.

