DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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SEPTEMBER 21• 2023 | 7
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Both sectors are in high demand
in Michigan and refugees can fill
these gaps.
The report does uncov-
er some areas of concern.
Unfortunately, the underem-
ployment rate (those who are
working in jobs outside of their
skill set and education) for ref-
ugees is the highest, with 36.2%
holding a degree or talent but
not having the opportunity to
work in their field.
Fortunately, Michigan is a
national leader in addressing
the underemployment of col-
lege-educated immigrants and
refugees. The state has devel-
oped professional licensing
guides that assist foreign-trained
and educated professionals in
how to obtain their Michigan
license or professional certifica-
tion in nearly 50 occupations,
well more than any other state.
For nearly a decade, the Office
of Global Michigan operated
the Michigan International
Talent Solutions program to
provide one-on-one assistance
to underemployed immigrant
and refugee professionals. With
two years of funding appropriat-
ed by the Michigan Legislature
(under both Republican and
Democratic majorities), the
state has invested in relaunching
the program through five local
Michigan Works! agencies.
Contrary to popular belief,
refugees possess valuable skills
and talents that are beneficial to
our society. In fact, this research
demonstrates that 5.6% of ref-
ugees are employed in STEM
jobs, a higher percentage than
other immigrants at 5.2% and
U.S.-born residents at 2.8%.
In spite of the fact that
Michigan is home to 84,200 ref-
ugees, which is 0.8% of the
overall population and little
more than 10% of the total
number of immigrants living
in the state, the anti-immigrant
crowd may try to lead people to
believe that refugees are taking
over the state. This is far from
the truth. Refugees contribute
to Michigan’s economy with an
impressive $1.7 billion in annual
spending and $197.3 million in
state and local taxes. Refugees
help create jobs and stimulate
economic growth, leading to a
stronger and more prosperous
Michigan.
A 2017 economic impact
report from Global Detroit —
the nonprofit economic devel-
opment organization focused on
building an immigrant-inclusive
regional economy — not only
chronicled the economic contri-
butions of refugees in Southeast
Michigan from more recent
arrivals, but highlighted the con-
tributions that refugee entrepre-
neurs have made in creating jobs
for Michigan residents.
When it comes to researching
the socio-demographic devel-
opment and cultural and educa-
tional impact of refugees on the
United States, the quantitative
research does not quite capture
the full picture. It focuses on
the economic data but fails to
recognize the tremendous social
and cultural contributions that
refugees make in the form of
art, food, music, education and
creative thinking.
In fact, you can witness these
contributions of non-U.S.-born
populations throughout Metro
Detroit in areas like Southwest
Detroit, Hamtramck, Warren,
Sterling Heights, Southfield,
Troy, Dearborn and Dearborn
Heights.
Michigan is at the forefront
of developing state and local
policies that welcome and
integrate refugees. Recently,
the State Office of Global
Michigan awarded operat-
ing grants to three refugee
resettlement collaboratives
in Southeast, Mid- and West
Michigan. Global Detroit was
awarded the contract as the
lead agency for the Southeast
Michigan Refugee Collaborative,
a multi-sector network of pri-
vate and public entities across
Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw
and Wayne counties, working
together to create more robust
support systems for people seek-
ing refuge and safety.
SPEEDING INTERGRATION
By proactively connecting refu-
gee resettlement agencies, non-
profit social service providers,
local government and the pri-
vate sector, our region can help
speed the process of integration
and improve outcomes.
Additionally, the Michigan
Legislature recently appro-
priated $3 million for a New
Michiganders Fund to help fund
legal, social and other critical
integration services for new
arrivals.
We can celebrate our nation’s
historic role in welcoming refu-
gees and those eager to pursue
the freedoms and opportunities
embodied by the American
Dream. The new research from
the American Immigration
Council clearly demonstrates
that refugees are not a burden to
the United States but rather an
often unrecognized economic
asset who foster job creation and
combat our nation’s population
challenges. At a time when the
United States is competing on
a global scale for talent in the
mobility, technology, manufac-
turing and healthcare industries,
it is essential to utilize every
available public policy to ensure
our economic future. Refugees
embody the American Dream,
and a robust policy of welcom-
ing refugees bolsters the econ-
omy and upholds our commit-
ment to human rights
Tariq Fanek is the director of
Neighborhood Development for Global
Detroit and a current U.S. Global
Leadership Coalition Fellow.
very well have one of the
factors that eventually led
the Gulf States to make
their historic moves.
One can at least specu-
late that if Oslo had never
occurred, the Abraham
Accords would not have
transpired.
As we mark these two
events, it is also relevant
to note that the historic
nature of Arab countries
now normalizing relations
with Israel — and routinely
doing all kinds of things
with the Jewish state that
would have been deemed
anathema before — has had
a huge impact on many of
the enemies of Israel in a
somewhat surprising way.
Rather than causing them
to rethink their hostile
views, many of them have
doubled down and exacer-
bated their condemnation
so recently highlighted in
Libya. It is as if they don’t
know what to make of
this transformation by the
Arabs, longtime the leaders
in opposition to Israel. In a
panic over this change, they
are stepping up their game.
And so as we reach
these two anniversaries,
one a milestone, the two
narratives will undoubt-
edly persist. Let us surely
all celebrate the road that
normalization is leading us
and emphasize what hope it
offers going forward. And
for those who still think
Oslo was an important
moment as well in Israel’s
history, take some satis-
faction in thinking the
Abraham Accords might
have never happened if not
for Oslo.
Kenneth Jacobson is Deputy
National Director of the Anti-
Defamation League.
OSLO’S CONTRIBUTION TO
ISRAELI-ARAB NORMALIZATION
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