A Place-based Approach to Understanding Immigrant Retention and Integration in Canadian and American Non-traditional Gateway Cities: A Scoping Literature Review

<p dir="ltr">As globalization and migration have intensified, the need for integrating immigrants has become vital. Considering the similar but distinct policy and political contexts between Canada and the United States, it has become imperative to develop a thorough understanding of the impact of the localization of immigration policies on various immigrant groups and the places that have shaped their settlement and integration experiences. This scoping literature review presents a comparative perspective to enhance our understanding of the varied non-traditional gateway cities in both countries, as well as the place-based integration initiatives and local actors that play crucial roles in shaping immigrants’ lived experiences. The review includes 145 scholarly articles published in English from 2000 onwards that examine immigrant and refugee populations residing in smaller urban, suburban, or rural communities in both countries. It aims to provide a comparative analysis on the following: 1) local place-based initiatives in non-traditional gateway cities; 2) multi-level governance of immigrant integration and the role of municipalities and local actors; and 3) the contributing factors to integration and retention based on immigrants’ lived experiences. The scoping review concludes with research gaps and future directions.</p>