Iraqi refugees move to Mich. despite poor economy

Source: Assoicated Press

DETROIT — The U.S. government resettled Iraqi refugee Mazen Alsaqa in Massachusetts in February.

Within a month, he had moved to Michigan.

Alsaqa didn't dislike Massachusetts, but he never thought about staying. The only place he wanted to live was the Detroit area, where he's closer to relatives.

Tens of thousands have fled Michigan's troubled economy in recent years. But Iraqi refugees continue to move there despite a U.S. government policy trying to limit refugee resettlement in the Detroit area.

Family ties and cultural support from the region's large Middle Eastern community appear no match for the U.S. effort to ease economic strains.

Experts say the "secondary migration" poses its own challenges but could be better for refugees' long-term adjustment.


Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5itSk4RugP1R0GGOygITSKAdDIPIgD9C4MTLO0

I'm pretty sure any sane person would prefer the lousy economy of Michigan over the horrible economy of Iraq, and oh yeah, the mortars, occupation, suicide bombings, IEDs, etc. any day of the week.

The man in question preferred the lousy economy of Detroit over the lousy economy of Massachusetts because by moving to Detroit he was "at home"--he had a network of family there.

In like fashion, in some cases lots of people from Mexican villages move in tandem. And Moravian and Volga German families in the late 1800s often resettled in the US in a way that essentially reconstituted large chunks of their home villages. This is/was usually done because once a few people moved they could form anchors, helping new immigrants or making sure the immigrants showed up with a place to stay.

In the case of Mazen it's a case of being immigrating and then migrating, though.

probably the highest of anywhere in the US. I didn't know that until I worked there back in the winter of 1999-2000 - lots of Middle Eastern restaraunts if you like that kind of food.

Never have been there(this section of Dearborn) even though we grew up about 15 minutes from Dearborn. I've been told they pretty much have their own little city within the area where they live. My daughter has taught some of the special needs children from there & the parent's have treated her with the utmost respect. She didn't need a restaurant as they always sent home great food with her, lol.

There's also supposed to be a large population in Brooklyn too.

My friend's father, a native of Lebanon, but a citizen of this country for years was elected Mayor of their town, which is not predominantly Muslim or of Arabic descent, just a month after 9/11.

Going to his inauguration was perhaps the proudest I've felt of this country.

There really isn't a ton of anti-Muslim or anti-Arabic sentiment in Metro Detroit, and it's important to distinguish the two given the large Chaldean population in the area.