Businesses and People for Immigration, a new advocacy campaign launched on January 15, 2025, is raising the banner on the critical role that immigration plays in driving Michigan’s population and economic success.
With more than 340 signatories, including the Detroit and Grand Rapids Chambers of Commerce, business leaders, local economic development organizations, businesses and concerned individual who understand that immigration is pivotal to Michigan’s economic viability, now and in the future. As the expanse of anti-immigrant policies of the new administration begins to take effect and public concerns mount, the urgency around smart immigration policy has never been more dire.
“Immigration is an absolutely critical component to our regional, state and national economies,” stated Sandy Baruah, president and chief executive officer of the Detroit Regional Chamber. “Nations and regions that are not growing in population shrink in their economic prosperity and competitiveness. Michigan, in particular, faces a population challenge and with the state and national trend of fewer births, we must rely upon immigration — from both other parts of the nation and other parts of the world — to fuel our key industries such as technology, health sciences and mobility.”
The campaign, which can be viewed at www.forimmigration.biz, asks supporters to sign a pledge that calls for “smart immigration policy” that will create “a strong, effective and welcoming federal and state immigration system that offers freedom, opportunity, and security to immigrants whose talent, hard work, and entrepreneurship help us build a more prosperous America, and stronger Michigan.”
“Michigan is a national leader in developing strategies, policies, programs and practices that leverage immigrant contributions to foster economic growth and shared prosperity,” noted Steve Tobocman, executive director of Global Detroit, the principal architect of the campaign. “There are too many false narratives about immigrants and immigration that are clouding the facts and leading to harmful public policies and business decisions. We can’t afford to get this issue wrong.”
Immigration has been the source of all of Michigan’s population growth over the last 25 years. In the absence of immigration, Michigan would have about 100,000 fewer residents today than in 2020. Rick Baker, President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Chamber, affirmed that “Talent and population growth are top issues for business, and simply put, the numbers don’t lie. Immigration is a critical source to our state’s economic prosperity and our future growth.”
Since its debut on January 15, the pledge has attracted an array of signers, including chambers across the state (Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids and Traverse City), economic development organizations in the Upper Peninsula (Invest UP), talent attraction initiatives in northern Michigan (Michigan’s Creative Coast) and in the IT industry (Digital Lakes), retailers in Detroit (Canine to Five and Good Cakes and Bakes), as well as one of Southeast Michigan’s most well-known general contracting companies, J.C. Beal Construction.
Immigrants made up 6.9% of the Michigan’s total population but 8.4% of its working age population and employed labor force. Immigrants are 24.1% more likely to be of working age than their U.S.-born counterparts.
“Our country should be open to accept immigrants from other countries for all of the benefits they bring and should encourage the creation of legal means to accept far more individuals than now accepted,” stated Fred Beal, president of J.C. Beal Construction, a Michigan-based construction firm founded more than 60 years ago specializing in downtown renovation projects with offices in Detroit and Ypsilanti.
“Immigrants are disproportionately represented in construction jobs and as owners of construction firms. As Michigan’s downtowns are rejuvenated and we seek to build more housing to address our housing crisis, ensuring a robust immigration system that accommodates legal migration is critical.”
Immigrants comprised 18.6% of Michigan workers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields in 2022 and Michigan is home to more than 38,000 international students, or eighth-most among the 50 states. These students contribute $1.455 billion annually to the Michigan economy through spending on tuition, rent, food, entertainment, goods, and services. “Immigrants are a critical component of any entrepreneurial talent recruitment and retention initiative,” noted Jim Baker, Senior Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation, Michigan Technological University. “They are proven leaders in the entrepreneurial community and essential team members of high-growth companies throughout the country.”
The campaign cites a number of facts and studies that illustrate immigration’s extraordinary benefit to Michigan, in areas including population growth, economic and tax contributions, talent and workforce, STEM and entrepreneurship. In 2022, immigrants in Michigan earned $31.3 billion, contributed $67.8 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (about 9.9%), paying $5.5 billion to federal taxes and $2.6 billion to state and local taxes. 46,200 immigrants in Michigan are entrepreneurs. Their businesses produced $1.4 billion in business income in 2022.
The campaign’s founding sponsor is Global Detroit, an immigrant inclusive economic and community development organization. Interested companies, organizations, and individuals can show their support and get involved by visiting forimmigration.biz. Further media assets and interviews are available.
