On March 19th, 2013, the Swedish Embassy partnered with the German Marshall Fund to host the latest installment in GMF’s Immigration Embassy Event Series.  The topic of discussion was “How to Create a “We”?  Welcoming Immigrant Integration in Sweden and the United States,” looking at immigrant integration from a transatlantic perspective.  Erik Ullenhag, the Swedish Minister for Integration, represented Sweden and took the opportunity to explain the history of immigration to Sweden and the current integration situation in the country.  Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), supplied the U.S. perspective.  Susan Martin, Director of the Institute for the Study of International Migration in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, was able to provide insights on the success of integration in the U.S., as well as make comparisons between the European and American contexts.  Martin Klingst, the Washington Bureau Chief for Die Zeit, moderated the discussion. 

Sweden only became a destination for migrants in the 1950s, but now 15% of the Swedish population is composed of foreign-born individuals.  Integration has been quite successful in Sweden, but challenges still remain.  Far-right parties pose a challenge in Sweden and in many other European countries, threatening to shift the political map and put a negative spin on the immigrant and integration discourse.  The issue of identity is also an important topic of concern.  People often have many different identities, but migrants in Europe are often given only one identity, that of “immigrant.”  Whereas the U.S. has adopted the concept of dual identities, this is not yet possible in Sweden.  

In the U.S., a number of factors have contributed to successful immigrant integration in the country.  This includes an immigration policy that requires sponsorship, ensuring that there is someone who looks out for the migrant and wants them to succeed.  Other features include birthright citizenship, a strong set of anti-discrimination policies, flexible labor markets, and and the public education system, which teach American values, civics and history.  The U.S. has a different immigration history and identity, but faces similar integration questions and challenges as Sweden, especially as the U.S. grapples with the current question of legalization for undocumented migrants.  One important takeaway form the event included the need to focus on an immigrant’s future (where they are headed) rather than their history (where they are from).