Immigration is changing cities around the world. Millions of people move to new countries every year, and most of them settle in urban areas. Because of this, cities play a central role in how immigrants adapt to their new lives. However, much of the existing research on immigrant integration focuses on national policies, laws, and general social attitudes, often overlooking the specific role cities play in this process.

This special issue argues that we need to look more closely at the city level. Cities are not just physical backgrounds where integration happens. They are active spaces that shape how immigrants interact with their new environment and find opportunities. To understand this properly, we need to study integration through the eyes of the urban environment itself, not only through national or abstract social frameworks.

This also means paying attention to the dynamics within cities. Integration does not happen the same way in every neighborhood. Different districts, streets, and public spaces create different conditions for social contact, economic opportunity, and inclusion. This special issue invites research that explores these local, everyday dynamics and shows how urban space itself can support or limit immigrant inclusion.

This special issue welcomes research that examines the relationship between urban space and immigrant integration. It encourages studies that treat the city as an active participant in the integration process, rather than a passive setting. Papers may focus on social, economic, spatial, or policy dimensions of integration, as well as design and planning approaches that support inclusion. Comparative studies, case studies, and theoretical contributions are all welcome, as long as they connect clearly to the urban dimension of immigrant inclusion.