Immigrants and the City

Catalog description

More people than ever live in a country other than the one they were born in: over 281 million people (about 3.6% of the global population) have left their home country (United Nations, n.d.). Some are forcibly displaced due to conflict, violence, or disasters, while others choose to leave for economic, familial, or educational opportunities. The United States is home to more international migrants than any other nation. About 25% of children under age 18 have a parent who came to the US as an immigrant (Lopez, 2022). International migration is a large driver of urban development, and immigrants have shaped cities since our nations founding. This undergraduate course introduces issues arising from the movement of peoples across national boundaries and explores how policy, planning, and the built environment can influence migration and immigrants’ experiences. We start globally, examining push and pull factors that drive migration, along with policy and planning responses to immigrants. In the second half, we focus on immigration in the US. We identify differences and complexities among different immigrant groups and explore responses to immigration. Throughout the course, students will critically examine the possibilities and difficulties of planning for the wellbeing of immigrant populations.