Introduction: Immigrant and refugee experiences in North American Cities

The U.S. and Canada are countries that have been shaped and defined by immigration. In recent decades, however, changes in the immigration policies of both countries have resulted in more heterogeneous immigrant flows than ever before. These new waves of immigration have transformed the demography, as well as social, economic, and political structures of North American urban and suburban areas. Given the importance of immigration as an engine of social and political change as well as economic development, it is imperative that scholarship addresses these new realities in our metropolitan areas. This theme issue on "Immigrant and Refugee Experiences in North American Cities" explores some of the important links between immigration and the opportunities and challenges in two complex multicultural societies - the U.S. and Canada. The six articles that comprise this special issue are organized around three broad themes: (a) immigration, discrimination, and identity; (b) settlement and life experiences; and (c) housing incorporation and economic integration.