Here’s something that immediately stood out to us in the “American Dreamers” list complied by Crain’s Detroit Business: About one third of the successful immigrants on it are Arab Americans. 

The list features 38 immigrants, 11 of whom are Arabs. We take great pride in our community’s visible presence. 

This is noteworthy because it serves as a reminder of how much Arab and Muslim immigrants have contributed to the region socially, through their culture and entrepreneurial spirit.  

The list was published June 1 and features profiles on first-generation immigrants, in addition to highlighting their achievements in fields including technology, journalism, medicine, law, social services, restaurants and engineering.

Our publisher Osama Siblani, who is the co-founder of The Arab American News, was named an American Dreamer for his contributions to American journalism. 

The profiles show that through their professions, immigrants contribute to society as a whole and not just their own communities. The heads of two of metro Detroit’s largest human service organizations— which were founded by Arab American immigrants and have served all communities across the region for decades — were also named American Dreamers. 

We thank Crain’s for investing so much time on a project that showcases the tremendous contributions of immigrants from different communities in our region. 

Arabs and Muslims are doctors, lawyers, educators, police officers, firefighters, philanthropists, journalists and prominent businessmen. Unfortunately, too many people refuse to acknowledge this and look beyond the negative depictions of them in the mainstream media. 

It is refreshing to see immigrants portrayed as the “givers” rather than the “takers” who have nothing to offer this country. This is a widespread perception which the American Dreamers project proves wrong. 

Those who were profiled share a few common traits that show being an immigrant has nothing to do with their success: They all have tough work ethics and are passionate and dedicated to their careers. 

Despite the level of success Arab Americans have reached in this country, they still have immense challenges that lie ahead. 

Members of our community are constantly being profiled by federal agents. They continue to deal with unfair immigration policies and experience issues with being placed on the U.S. No Fly List and having their bank accounts closed without reasonable explanation. 

Finally, there are a lot of other successful hard-working immigrants in our community who weren’t named American Dreamers, but have contributed to enhancing the quality of life in the region just as much, if not more. 

The stories of Arab American small business owners who emigrated here to start better lives for their families and eventually became the backbone of the economy in cities such as Dearborn and Detroit weren’t told. 

No list is long enough to measure the success and impact of immigrants in this community, and others nationwide.