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These communities are leading Metro Detroit’s population growth

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These communities are leading Metro Detroit’s population growth


The Asian American and Hispanic communities in Metro Detroit grew significantly over the last half-decade, helping to fuel a small boost in Michigan’s population, newly released Census Bureau data shows.

The Asian American populations of Wayne, Macomb, and Oakland counties jumped 8% from 2023 to 2024, the most of any ethnic group. The number of Hispanic residents in Macomb and Oakland counties has increased by more than 10% since 2020. 

The latest Census Bureau release contains county-level data on age, race and sex across all U.S. states and Puerto Rico through July 1, 2024. It uses an adjusted version of the 2020 decennial census and updated information on births, deaths and migration.

Census data released earlier this year showed that Michigan’s population grew more in 2024 than it had in several decades, driven in large part by immigration to Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. Those three counties grew by more than 30,000 residents. Michigan’s population increased by 57,000 residents in 2024 to 10.14 million due solely to immigration growth.

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State Rep. Ranjeev Puri, a Canton Township Democrat who represents part of Wayne County, called the new demographic numbers “exciting news.”

“The ethnic diversity of Michigan is one of the strong suits,” Puri said.

Puri, the Michigan House Democratic leader, is the highest-ranking South Asian official in the state, as well as the first person of color to represent his district.

He said it is important to remember the “rich diversity” of the many Asian American communities across the state. “All of that woven into Michigan makes it a much better place,” Puri said.

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Canton Township, which makes up most of Puri’s district, has experienced “a tremendous amount of growth” in recent years, particularly among communities of color, he said. The community of 99,873 residents is 62% White, nearly 20% Asian, 10% Black and 4.5% Hispanic, according to the Census Bureau.

Puri said he takes the responsibility to represent these constituents seriously. “My goal is to make sure that every community has representation,” he said.

Lex Zavala, who has spent 22 years serving the Latino community in Metro Detroit with the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, said the growth in immigrant populations helps communities thrive.

When Zavala, now the DHDC’s interim executive director, was growing up in southwest Detroit, most of the Latino population did not speak Spanish.

That all changed when he was a teenager. The arrival of Mexican and Central American immigrants “influenced our community in a way that it grew, it blossomed…,” he said.

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The neighborhood, to Zavala, represents “an example of what happens when immigrants are allowed to dream and grow.”

The growth of Latino communities in Oakland and Macomb counties can be attributed to a combination of recent waves of Venezuelan and Colombian immigrants and upwardly mobile Hispanic families from neighboring areas, said Elias Gutiérrez, founder and publisher of The Latino Press, a Spanish-language weekly newspaper in Detroit.

Osvaldo “Ozzie” Rivera, a longtime community organizer and musician who teaches Afro-Latino history and culture at Wayne State University, said a strong Latino community has existed in places like River Rouge and Highland Park since the first half of the 20th century.

Rivera has worked to document the long history of Latino organizers and musicians in the Detroit area.

“If you don’t know the past, you don’t know the present,” he said.

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Zavala’s work at the DHDC has adapted to meet the needs of a more spread-out community.

“We’re just following where our community goes, making sure they’re really receiving the services they need,” he said.

The DHDC runs programs teaching English with a vocational focus to help immigrants who were professionals in their home country get licensed in the United States. The organization also helps community members start businesses and buy their first homes.

“A lot of people that come are coming with their green cards, refugee citizenships — they’re able to have their Social Security numbers, purchase homes, start businesses,” Zavala said.

Recent immigration crackdowns by the Trump administration have cast a shadow on Latino communities across the Metro area, he said.

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“The Latino population is scared to go out. It’s almost back to COVID lockdown,” Zavala said.

And immigrant-run businesses have suffered, he said: “Our business district is empty now. Restaurants and construction can’t find enough workers to fill their space.”

President Donald Trump campaigned on the promise of mass deportations, starting with immigrant criminals who are in the country illegally but also deporting others who are found to be in the country illegally.

As Latino communities outside of southwest Detroit continue to expand, however, Zavala was optimistic.

“I think for the majority, people understand that these are hardworking people that are coming here to build the American Dream just like previous immigrant populations,” he said.

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bwarren@detroitnews.com



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Detroit, MI

Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams

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Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams


ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions will be without safety Kerby Joseph again this weekend, while listing seven other players as questionable.

Joseph and fellow safety Brian Branch were the only players ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Branch is out for the season due to an Achilles injury, but has not been placed on injured reserve yet. And Joseph, who will now miss his eighth straight game, suffered a setback and could be a candidate for injured reserve, per Dan Campbell.

The Lions listed tight end Shane Zylstra (knee), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle), guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), safety Thomas Harper (concussion protocol), left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder/rest) and guard Kayode Awosika (foot) as questionable.

Decker has not practiced this week. But he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and is coming off playing three games in less than two weeks. Awosika missed last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys due to his foot injury. The veteran guard has practiced in a limited capacity all week long.

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Trystan Colon and Miles Frazier split duties at left guard last week for Awosika. The Lions will have a decision to make there between those three options, but perhaps for only another weekend.

Mahogany returned to practice this week. He seems like a longshot to play this weekend based on his injury. But the Lions are listing him as questionable after logging three limited practices in his first action back on the field.

Zylstra has been back at practice for two weeks in his return from injured reserve. Heading into the weekend, the Lions have only one tight end on their 53-man roster (Anthony Firkser) and hope to get Zylstra back.

Campbell said Harper has a chance to play against the Rams despite spending the week in concussion protocol. The Lions could sure use Harper, with Branch and Joseph both out, to hold things down at safety with Avonte Maddox against the high-powered Rams.

“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him, but we’ll see,” Campbell said on Friday morning. “There again, I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at.

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“So, we’ll be good. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) DT’s been taking reps, Maddox has been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys. They’re getting valuable reps, so we’re good.”

Raymond has missed two consecutive games due to an ankle injury suffered against the New York Giants. He has a shot to return after working back into practice, and should reclaim his role returning punts.

Vaki has continued to play through his thumb injury. He hasn’t returned kickoffs since suffering the injury, with Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors taking over.



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Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades

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Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades


CONNOR McDAVID. 9. In a quiet first minutes of this one McDavid had the most dangerous shot for, glancing off Talbot’s shoulder and out. Terrific patience on the doorstep before dishing to Hyman for the 1-0. Nearly outwaited Talbot again later in the frame. Dished the disk back to Ekholm on the 2-0. Pranced in and rifled a backhand off Talbot. Hi-lite reel assist on the 3-1, where he knocks down a puck then puts a backhand through his own legs to a waiting Hyman alone in the slot. An assist on the 4-1, for his forty-third four-point game. 63% on faceoffs. Second Star.



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SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side

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SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side


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SAY Detroit had a surprise in store during its 14th annual fundraiser.

The charity founded by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom announced plans for a new SAY Detroit Play Center on the city’s west side during its annual radiothon, taking place on Thursday, Dec. 11. The after-school educational center will be built on the campus of St. Cecilia’s church, which includes the historic St. Cecilia gym, also known as the Mecca of Detroit basketball.

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The new facility will be called the SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia.

This will be the organization’s second play center, with the first opening in 2015 along Van Dyke Avenue on the city’s east side. The center provides educational and recreational opportunities for kids from 8-18 at Lipke Park.

The announcement was made during the foundation’s 15-hour radiothon, which raises money for SAY Detroit and other affiliated charities. Last year’s radiothon raised a record $2.23 million, with the fundraiser bringing in over $16.5 million in total since it was launched in 2012.

SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and operates the play center and free family health clinic, along with providing a housing program for Detroit families and other direct efforts with the community.

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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.



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