Immigration Ethics

cosmopolitanism

• wealthy nations have strong moral obligations to help all people equally; regardless of nationality

• tends to support open borders

anticosmopolitanism

• nations do owe duties to outsiders, but duties to their own citizens may be stronger

• can justify immigration restrictions

security argument

a state has a responsibility to protect its citizens first

governments should protect citizens from:

• terrorism

• crime

• external threats

borders help maintain national security

economic argument

immigrants take jobs, lower wages, and burden the economy

welfare argument

open borders overwhelm welfare systems

if immigrants receive healthcare, housing, education, then taxpayers may face excessive burdens

cultural argument

immigration threatens national identity / culture

priority to citizens argument

governments have stronger obligations to their own citizens than to foreigners

huemer’s argument

1. people have a right not to be subjected to harmful coercion

2. immigration restrictions are harmful coercion

3. therefore immigration restrictions are prima facie rights violations

starving marvin and uncle sam thought experiment

• marvin is starving

• he tries to access food / work

• uncle sam forcibly blocks him

result: marvin suffers severe harm because someone prevents him from improving his life