Michigan Gov. Rick Synder’s proposal to jump start Detroit’s economy by bringing 50,000 immigrants to the city on work visas over the next five years was met with praise and caution by ethnic and minority publishers. They welcomed a more diverse Detroit, but stressed city services and safety must improve and immigrants must not face discrimination. 

• “Immigration should be part of this region’s agenda for rebuilding and needs State support, but it also needs city and municipal support. We need a comprehensive plan that includes work visas, but also local government and community engagement to make our region welcoming to immigration and investment.” Hayg Oshagan of New Michigan Media

• “Any effort to attract new talent is great, but you also have to build capacity within the city for the people here.” -Catherine Kelly of The Michigan Citizen

• “I am very excited about this project but I am very realistic, too…We desire to have more immigrants and we are ready to issue visas for them but, at the same time, we continue to harass them at the border and spy on them.”-Osama Siblani of The Arab American News 

• “Michigan is putting out the welcome mat for immigrants, but it needs to be broad rather than narrow and with no asterisks.”-Arthur Horwitz of The Jewish News  

• “We all need each other, every color of people for the city and state.”-Tack-Yong Kim of The Michigan Korean Weekly

• “(The) governor is doing the right thing, but should expand the plan” to provide opportunities “for undocumented immigrants who are already here so that they can buy properties in Detroit, live in them and maintain them” among other efforts.- Elias Gutierrez of Latino Press.