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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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