Embracing refugees: a revival solution for shrinking american cities

• Author: Silvia M. Radulescu
• Position: J.D. Candidate, Georgetown University Law Center, 2022; B.A. Government, Hamilton College, 2017
• Pages: 775-794

EMBRACING REFUGEES: A REVIVAL SOLUTION

FOR SHRINKING AMERICAN CITIES

SILVIA M. RADULESCU*

ABSTRACT

This Note presents a case study of Utica, New York to argue that policies

and practices that welcome and support refugees offer a synergistic solution

to the capitalist-induced vulnerabilities of declining American cities. An influx

of refugees can spearhead urban renewal and reinvestment in shrinking cities

suffering from population loss, dying economies, derelict infrastructure, erod-

ing tax bases, deficient social services, and crime. Reciprocally, shrinking

cities can offer unique benefits for refugees if they adopt integration programs

and supportive services like those in Utica. Part I is an overview of shrinking

cities in the United States. Part II presents Utica, New York as a case study for

the virtuous cycle other declining towns could experience if they embrace,

instead of reject, refugees. Part III distills why this pairing could be the pana-

cea for shrinking cities’ suffering and refugees’ needs. Finally, Part IV pro-

poses policies and practices to expand and support refugee resettlement in

shrinking cities and argues that initiatives should be implemented at the fed-

eral, state, and local levels in ways that unify communities rather than perpetu-

ate existing divisions.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION ......................................... 776

I. “SHRINKING CITIES”................................. 777

II. UTICA, NEW YORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 778

A. Industrialization’s Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 778

B. “The Town That Loves Refugees”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 780

* Silvia M. Radulescu, J.D. Candidate, Georgetown University Law Center, 2022; B.A.

Government, Hamilton College, 2017. I thank Professor Sherally Munshi for her guidance and James

Ehret and my family for their constant support. © 2022, Silvia M. Radulescu.

775

C. Refugees’ Impact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 785

III. REVIVING SHRINKING CITIES WITH THE HELP OF REFUGEES . . . . . . . . 786

A. Benefit to Shrinking Cities ........................ 786

B. Benefit to Refugees............................. 788

IV. POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR IMPLEMENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 789

A. Federal Initiatives ............................. 790

B. State Initiatives ............................... 792

C. Local Initiatives ............................... 793

V. CONCLUSION ...................................... 794

INTRODUCTION

Utica, New York has gained fame as “the town that loves refugees.”

1

During the twentieth century, Utica became a Rust Belt town that experi-

enced economic downturn, industrial decline, and population loss. As the

decline left homes and storefronts vacant, the city opened its doors to refu-

gees. The modest influx of migrants helped alleviate labor shortages, shored

up city budgets, and brought new vibrance to neighborhoods. The effects of

refugee resettlement over the last four decades have been extraordinary,

revamping Utica’s reputation, restoring the city’s dignity, and bringing a

fractured community together in support of a humanitarian cause.

This Note argues that policies and practices that welcome and support ref-

ugees offer a synergistic solution to the capitalist-induced vulnerabilities of

declining American cities. An influx of refugees can spearhead urban renewal

and reinvestment in shrinking cities suffering from population loss, dying

economies, derelict infrastructure, eroding tax bases, deficient social serv-

ices, and crime. Reciprocally, shrinking cities can offer unique benefits for

refugees if they adopt integration programs and supportive services like those

in Utica.

Part I is an overview of shrinking cities in the United States. Part II

presents Utica, New York as a case study for the virtuous cycle other declin-

ing towns could experience if they embrace, instead of reject, refugees. Part

III distills why this pairing could be the panacea for shrinking cities’ suffer-

ing and refugees’ needs. Finally, Part IV proposes policies and practices to

expand and support refugee resettlement in shrinking cities and argues that

1. See UNHCR, The Town That Loves Refugees, 138 REFUGEES MAG. 1 (2005), https://perma.cc/

G2PQ-64UY.

776 GEORGETOWN IMMIGRATION LAW JOURNAL [Vol. 36:775