wˈʌn θˈɪŋ wˈɜːði nˈoʊɾɪŋ ɪz ðæt mˈoːɹ ænd mˈoːɹ stˈʌdiz dˌɪfɚɹˈɛnʃɪˌeɪt lˈoʊkəl fɹˈɛndz fɹʌm ˈɪmɪɡɹənt fɹˈɛndz bɪkˈʌz ðə fˈɔːɹmɚɹ ɪz kənsˈɪdɚd mˈoːɹ ɪmpˈoːɹtənt ɪn ˈɪntᵻɡɹˌeɪɾɪŋ ˈɪmɪɡɹənts ˌɪntʊ ðə lˈoʊkəl səsˈaɪəɾi ðɐn ðə lˈæɾɚ.
One thing worthy noting is that more and more studies differentiate local friends from immigrant friends because the former is considered more important in integrating immigrants into the local society than the latter.