Prof. Douglass Massey’s new book, “New Faces in New Places: The Changing Geography of American Immigration,” offers up some important new data and perspectives in the movement to engage immigrants in the struggle for regional equity across the country.

Radio and TV talk show hosts and pundits often conjure images of destitute Mexican immigrants, hell bent on spreading their law-breaking ways and threatening sovereignty of our southern border. But Massey’s book provides ample proof that the face of immigrant America has changed dramatically in regard to race and class. The book documents how immigrants from Africa, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and other parts of the globe are making important contributions to the economic and social vitality of cities, towns, and rural areas.

In this interview on New York’s WNYC public radio, the Princeton sociologist explains that we must understand and respond to the underlying economic factors that have fueled the dispersal of immigrants from traditional gateway cities (Los Angeles and New York City) and states to suburban and rural communities in virtually every region of the country.

Amidst the shrill cries to “restore the rule of law” — often through evermore draconian policies aimed at punishing hardworking immigrants — Massey reminds us that addressing the dilemmas posed by these new patterns of immigration is not as simple as militarizing the border and cutting off services to immigrant children and families.

In communities from the Midwest to the Northwest, where white populations are simultaneously declining and aging, immigrants are the key to economic and social revitalization. Small towns that rely on industries (e.g., agricultural sectors, food processing, hospitality, etc.) with significant proportion of immigrant workers would face even greater financial challenges if immigrants were to leave voluntarily or by force.

There are some business and government leaders who understand this. Thankfully, they are quietly building support among civic leaders to help residents understand and respond constructively to rapidly changing demographic, economic, and social realities. A key element of this new outlook is the willingness to challenge leaders to go beyond scape-goating to collectively analyze the changes most needed to strengthen their communities.

Lester Heitke, who serves as Mayor in Willmar, Minnesota is a good example of this new leadership. When conflict erupted in Willmar in 2004, as a reaction to an escalation of ICE raids targeting families that worked in surrounding industry, Mayor Hietke did not rely on business as usual tactics. He refused to remain silent. Instead, together with the Chief of Police, the President of the Community College, and some other local leaders, Mayor Heitke organized community forums to give local residents a chance to vent their frustrations with the raids and the underlying economic conditions.

Since those tumultuous days, Heitke has garnered buy-in from city department heads, business, community, and other civic leaders to develop a more informed and visionary strategy to respond to the challenges facing the entire community-immigrants included. See link below for details of the goals that were developed by a civic engagement process Heitke refers to as Wilmar 2020. As the name implies this strategy seeks to improve Willmar’s economic and social prospects by looking forward not backward.

http://www.ci.willmar.mn.us/menu/mayorcouncil/2020.htm

Tags: immigration

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