Detroit: Beyond the Bailout, Immigration is Key Issue

"With states like Arizona and Alabama largely framing the national discussion about immigration-namely how to keep numbers of unskilled, unauthorized immigrants from entering the U.S.-a more nuanced immigration discussion is beginning to take hold in Detroit. It builds on the region's history of attracting workers of varying ethnicities to work in the auto factories," writes author Sandra Svoboda.

"The abundant, low-skill jobs that greeted those earlier immigrants have nearly disappeared, but reminders of their legacy remain, and the idea of a "new" population providing some future promise for Detroit is being espoused by some. In Detroit, immigration debate is starting to focus on balancing industry's need for qualified workers with a respect for current residents who suffer some of the highest unemployment rates in the country."

Thanks to Nekoro Gomes