Illegal migration is a complex issue that impacts governments, communities, and migrants. To implement effective solutions, we must first fully understand its causes.
Illegal migration is not just about people arriving by boat; it also includes individuals living with expired visas or using false documentation. Migrants may be escaping conflict, poor economic conditions, or attempting to bypass bureaucratic hurdles, but is too often the result of organizers who profit from providing false information about a country and charging large sums for illegal travel.
Impact of Migration
Any number of migrants/immigrants will affect a country’s economy, job market, and public services. However, the issue is not the quantity of people but the quality of people. If migrants come from areas with failing economies, high crime rates, and low moral values, their new home will likely end up resembling like their previous home. Concerns about security, economic impact, and social integration are valid, it will lead to a lowering of living standards and economic value of the host country.
On the other hand, if migrants are from well-developed areas with strong moral values, they would most liklely contribute very positively to the host country’s economic potential and lift living standards for everyone.
Current imgration rates:
- UK: 68 million population increasing by 100,000 per year is 1.4% growth
- AU: 27 million population increasing by 1,000,000 per year is 0.37% growth
- US: 342 million population increasing by 11,000,000 per year is 3.2% growth
Importance of Population Growth
If your concerned about geopolitical stability in your country then a population that is growing will help fix it. A country with a low population will struggle to defend itself against a larger neighbour, regardless of technological advantages. For instance, China’s population is approximately 20 times that of the UK and 50 times that of Australia. China spending 1% of its GDP on their military will result in many more fighter planes and aircraft carriers than the UK spending 10% of its GDP on the military.
So to maintain economic power and global dominance, a country must have a growing population, but most Western countries are actually experiencing declining birth rates; without immigration, their populations would be shrinking.
Solutions
1. Policy Reforms: Update and streamline legal migration processes to make them more accessible and efficient. Policies should address both the demand for migration and the needs of potential immigrants, including creating pathways for skilled migrants who can contribute positively to the economy. Any persons arriving in your country unwanted should be immediately sent back, without consulting their country of origin. The problem in the UK is that its still bound by several EU regulations, particularly the “European Convention on Human Rights,” which forces countries to accommodate any persons seeking asylum. If this policy allows the assimilation of the unwanted, then it either needs to be changed, or the UK needs to exit this EU policy, and needs to be done now.
2. Strengthening Border Control: More investments in enhancing border security. This includes using advanced surveillance and detection systems to manage and control unauthorised entries. Countries should also take consistent active roles in defending their border from immigrants, as one day it might not just be immigrants. (Don’t pay the other country for help in stopping them – UK!)
3. International Cooperation: Countries should always maintain good relations with others to take economic advantage of global economic trade even while returning their citizens. Countries which have poor foreign relations will have an economy that will suffer; it cant take advantage of a diverse value of trade – North Korea is a good example of this.
4. Support Programs: Develop programmes that offer easier and quicker pathways to legal status for any immigrants who meet specific criteria, such as contributing to the economy and demonstrating a good commitment to the country. This removes any unnecessary immigrants from being monitored and allows them to quickly start contribute positively to the country.
Examples of Success
- Germany’s Integration Programmes: Germany has implemented effective integration programmes that help immigrants learn the language and find jobs, contributing to successful settlement and social cohesion.
- Australia’s SkillSelect System: Australia’s SkillSelect programme targets skilled immigrants, balancing economic needs with effective management of migration. This system helps attract individuals who can contribute to Australia’s economic growth and global competitiveness.
- Canada’s Express Entry System: Canada’s Express Entry system is a comprehensive immigration management system that prioritises skilled workers based on their qualifications, work experience, and language skills. It uses a points-based system to evaluate candidates and selects those who are most likely to contribute positively to the Canadian economy. This system helps Canada address labour shortages and attracts individuals who can integrate well into Canadian society.
- New Zealand’s Immigration Points System: New Zealand employs a points-based immigration system that assesses potential migrants based on factors such as age, work experience, and qualifications. The system is designed to attract skilled migrants who can fill labour shortages and contribute to the country’s economic and social development. By focusing on high-quality migrants, New Zealand aims to ensure that newcomers can successfully integrate and enhance the nation’s growth and prosperity.
Future growth for any country largely depends on good effective migration policies. Addressing illegal migration is crucial for both national and global stability. Policies that attract skilled and high-quality immigrants are essential for supporting population growth and maintaining global dominance, especially in the face of declining birth rates.
Europe and the UK
The UK’s departure from the European Union following Brexit has significantly altered its relationship with Europe, especially regarding migration and border control. While the UK gained greater autonomy over its immigration policies, it has faced new challenges in managing migrant flows, including an ongoing migrant crisis. One of the key issues stems from the UK’s continued adherence to certain European legal frameworks, particularly the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
Despite leaving the EU, the UK remains a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, which is enforced by the ECHR. This connection has limited the UK’s ability to fully control its own immigration and deportation processes. Specifically, Article 8 of the European Convention, which protects the right to private and family life, can make it difficult to deport or remove individuals, including migrants who may not meet legal residency requirements. It’s this legal obligation contributes to the UK’s current migrant challenges, as it constrains the government’s ability to enforce stricter immigration policies.
For the UK to fix it’s migration problem, it has to first withdraw from the ECHR as to regain full control over its immigration system. Without this step, the UK will likely face legal battles with the EU for deporting individuals.
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