The Democratic Case for Immigration

Abstract

In this essay I present three challenges to the view that democratic self-determination justifies immigration control. I propose, first, that the reason democratic states can claim immigration control powers is not that they are democratic, but that they are independent states. Exercising this power is legitimate when immigration control is needed to preserve the conditions for democratic self-government. Second, I argue that democratic norms provide positive reasons for promoting free international movement and admission claims for family migrants, labour migrants, and refugees. Third, I suggest that current disputes over immigration policy in the European Union reflect deeper conflicts between open and closed conceptions of democracy. If this is correct, then choosing closure over openness may put the future of democracy itself at risk and should thus not be regarded as an issue of democratic self-determination.