6.7.4.1  Immigration

(This is a copy of archived version 2a of this pattern.  The latest version is at https://www.patternsofpower.org/patterns/political/issues/pluralism/immigration/.) 

Immigration is unavoidable.  At a minimum it will include filling skills shortages and, if the country is one of the 142 signatories to the Geneva Convention of 28 July 1951, providing asylum for refugees (5.4.7.6).  It is going to increase as a result of economic pressures €“ with broadly positive effects on the economy (3.4.3.3) in the medium term €“ but, especially when large numbers of people are involved, it creates social issues (4.4.5.3) and associated political issues:

·     Politicians are responsible for setting an asylum policy that is compatible with the country€™s international undertakings and the population€™s capacity to assimilate the refugees.  Politicians can persuade the population to be sympathetic to the refugees€™ plight. 

·     Asylum-seekers have to be housed immediately, at least on a temporary basis, whilst their requests for asylum are being assessed.  If this results in them €˜jumping the queue€™ for social housing, those who would otherwise have been re-housed are understandably upset.

·     All immigrants create an immediate pressure on public services, as they may need access to medical care and their children need schools.

·     They need jobs if they are not to need benefits; many are keen to work and, if permitted to do so, quickly find employment. 

If the authorities have made insufficient provision for receiving people, it is they who deserve criticism €“ not the immigrants themselves.

Immigrants need an induction into society.  They may find that it is easiest for them if they settle near to people from the same ethnic group, so that they can receive moral and practical support and can speak the same language.  They need different lengths of time to adjust, but it is preferable that they don€™t remain separate from the rest of society for any longer than necessary because that undermines social cohesion (6.6.3.4).  If they are allowed to find work wherever it is available, they will gradually disperse and can be absorbed. 

Immigration has to be controlled at a country€™s borders, or at the borders of the EU€™s Schengen area,[1] so that people who are a threat to national security can be turned back.  It is not feasible to control the numbers of economic migrants at the borders, by applying arbitrary national targets, because employment and accommodation can only practically be managed regionally.  Local politicians should manage the availability of work and accommodation, ensuring that employers can recruit the people they need whilst preventing overcrowding and vagrancy.  Economic migrants might be deported if they fail to find work soon enough €“ within 3 months, for example, as catered for in EU law.[2]

© PatternsofPower.org, 2014