DETROIT — Last week, Global Detroit re-released its demographic report of Metro Detroit’s foreign-born populations. It provides the most comprehensive geographic picture of Metro Detroit’s immigrant groups ever.  

The 35,076 foreign-born residents of Detroit rank it 138th nationally in the size of its immigrant population. As the 18th largest population in America, if Detroit had the 18th largest foreign-born population, the city would have an additional 108,586 residents. 

As the Detroit City Council convenes the first Immigration Task Force ever in the city’s history, these statistics lay a critical foundation for understanding the opportunity that an immigrant-welcoming strategy could have for the city and the benefits that might accrue to existing residents.