The Moral Justifiability of States' Right to Restrict Immigration

Evidently, the unusual high rate of immigration to developed nation states in recent times could be most likely traced to some of the challenges bedevilling our contemporary world in the developing and underdeveloped nations. Some of them are the high rate of poverty, civil and political unrest, religious crisis, poor infrastructure, unavailability of sufficient opportunities and inadequate access to basic amenities and facilities. However, a good number of these immigrants are constantly faced with inhumane treatment as a result of some of the policies formulated by states which go contrary to their fundamental right of freedom of movement. In view of this, Joseph Carens questions current immigration policies executed by some governments, and if they truly live up to their principles in relation to the dignity of human beings and the inalienable fundamental rights they enjoy or should enjoy. Consequently, the author of this book aims at examining the normative implications of states' rights to restrict immigration by bringing to light the demands of justice in a just world where such fundamental rights unique to humans as freedom, equality of opportunity and equity are upheld and respected. While leaving borders open so that immigrants can gain free access to other states, is this a lasting solution to the problem which is the motivation for people immigrating? Will a long-term solution like human empowerment and foreign aid to poor nations not reduce the rate of immigration and bring it to a halt? Unless a problem is addressed from its root, it always resurfaces.