Dearborn — Some love this city, others don’t. It’s the birthplace of the Ford Motor Company and its founder, Henry Ford, an Irish-American raised in a Christian home.
But the Dearborn of Ford’s time is a far cry from today’s. Often called the Muslim Capital of North America, about 54.5% of its residents have Middle Eastern or North African roots, and many of them are Muslim.
You may wonder why I’m pointing this out. Let me be clear: This isn’t about hate. I have Muslim friends, and I admire the coalition-building that President Donald Trump achieved with Michigan Muslims.
Dearborn has long leaned Democratic, yet many in its Muslim community hold conservative family values. As the Biden administration’s policies took their toll, a shift happened, and many Dearborn residents backed Trump.
This includes Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi and Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, both of whom endorsed President Trump.
Can these communities be our greatest political allies?
Dearborn’s Arab community began forming in the early 1900s, when Lebanese Christians and Muslims arrived for auto jobs at Ford. The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act ended restrictive quotas, opening doors for more immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa.
The Lebanese Civil War, occurring from 1975 to 1990, drove thousands of Lebanese Muslims to Dearborn as they fled violence. Palestinians, Yemenis, and Iraqis followed, escaping conflicts like the Gulf War. Chain migration built a tight-knit miniature nation, with mosques, Arabic schools, and markets like Al-Baik Grill on Warren Avenue. By the 2000s, Dearborn’s cultural status drew more arrivals, but the lack of assimilation has sparked debate.
It’s no secret that Middle Eastern and North African cultures differ sharply from America’s. The U.S. was built on principles of individualism, free speech, and Christian morality, creating a society that champions personal responsibility, open debate, and a government shaped by Christian ethics.
In contrast, many Muslim-majority nations were founded on collectivism, Islamic teachings, and tribal traditions that value community, the Islamic faith, and honor above all.
These differences are made clear in a quick visit to Dearborn. Picture this: You’re driving down a street, passing stores with signs you can’t read and names you can’t pronounce. Restaurants offer dishes you’ve never seen.
During this confusing and exhausting drive, you wonder: “Where the hell am I?” You’re on West Warren Avenue, passing Sheeba Hookah Shop and Al-Salam Supermarket. Not a recognizable business in sight.
You step out of the car and walk down Warren Avenue. A group of people is speaking loudly, but you can’t understand them. You pass what appears to be a bookstore with carvings you can’t read, but with a squint, you read “Middle Eastern Book Store” in smaller print and think: How can a bookstore in America be exclusively Middle Eastern?
Confused, you start scanning your surroundings and notice most people are in hijabs and traditional clothing, with no recognizable Western brands in sight.
The signs indicating “Birthplace of Henry Ford” pull you back to reality, but then you see the “Authorized Agent” signs for Hajj and Umrah, Islamic pilgrimages to Mecca.
It dawns on you that an American city isn’t supposed to look this way, and you feel out of place.
If a nation is made up of a people with their own culture, language, and customs, Dearborn and nearby Hamtramck seem to be forging a nation within ours. America speaks English, eats bacon, and reads the Bible. Once upon a time, Dearborn did too.
These cultural shifts aren’t just about signs or food: They reflect deeper values. In the U.S., we prize individual freedom, where anyone can speak their mind or chase their dreams.
In Middle Eastern and Northern African cultures, Islam often guides decisions, with less focus on personal choice.
This can feel like a clash when you’re driving through Dearborn, wondering if you’ve left America behind.
But the truth is that most of these Michiganders are natural allies of the Right. Many Muslim Americans share our love for family, hard work, and a strong nation. The challenge is uniting on these values without losing what makes America America.
I’m ready to build bridges, but not by sacrificing our identity as Americans.
James Hart is an America First activist fighting for a better future for all Americans. Follow him on Instagram @officiallyjhart and X @officiallyJhart.
