The destination for immigrants is not Chicago, but the city's northern suburbs. A report (PDF) out by the Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement at the University of Illinois at Chicago finds that "Since the 1990s, many more immigrants have moved directly to their suburban home from their native country, by-passing Chicago, the historical point of entry."
The study looked at 16 towns north of the city, which are served by the Interfaith Housing Center, a non-profit focused on policies concerning immigrant families. It found that in the last eight years, there has been a 19 percent increase in the towns' foreign-born population, while the native-born population has decreased by 3 percent. With increasing numbers of immigrant families, more and more of the
local community is being supported by these groups -- working and
spending -- leading to a contribution of $6.5 billion in 2006.
The survey was not, however, just a survey of changing demographics. It also sought to address serious policy issues, particularly around housing, that immigrants new to an area face. Foreclosure throughout the northern suburbs threatens to reverse the
trends that are diversifying the neighborhoods. Immigrants have a more difficult time taking advantage of services for homeowners and renters, in part, because of the language barrier. There is also a lack of
representation in the local governments now tasked with addressing the
immigrants' concerns.
The report also seeks to guide local municipalities towards best practices for addressing these issues. The most straight-forward way for the communities to improve is to work with the immigrant population and get their new residents involved in local government. Civic engagement, the report says, is essential to improving the lifestyles of the new neighbors in the suburbs.
An summit geared towards the immigrant community Saturday highlighted Illinois’ pro-immigrant policies and also controversy between Cook County and
federal immigration officials.
