Immigrant Inclusion: A Scoping Literature Review

Abstract

There is little consensus in the scientific literature on what constitutes immigrant inclusion, which may lead to varying understandings, subsequently impacting the reliability of studies. To address this gap in the literature, this study conducted a scoping literature review to analyze how immigrant inclusion is defined in academic literature. A total of 23 peer-reviewed articles were analyzed to identify key themes, trends, and gaps. Findings indicate no single, agreed-upon definition of immigrant inclusion, with definitions varying across legal, political, social, and cultural dimensions. Some studies describe inclusion as a process of extending rights to newcomers, while others frame it as an outcome like citizenship or full societal participation. The literature primarily focuses on North America and Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) immigrant groups, with limited studies on European or Global South contexts. From an anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion perspective, current research often reinforces racialized narratives without structural analysis of power dynamics. This study contributes to scholarly understanding by systematically analyzing diverse conceptualizations of immigrant inclusion which has an implication for social work policy and practice.