U.S. Immigration Policies and Human Rights

Anonymous

People often confuse the word 'migrants' between 'immigrants' and 'refugees'. These seemingly identical terms have slight differences. ‘Migrants’ refer to both immigrants and refugees. As for refugees and migrants, it is recommended by the UN Refugee Agency to distinguish the two correctly. Whereas migrants refer to all persons who move from one place to another, refugees differ in that they are a specifically defined and protected group in international law. It is because the situation in refugees’ country of origin makes it impossible for them to repatriate. Despite the difference, it is without question that both refugees and migrants’ human rights should be well respected.

Unfortunately, this is not the case in many countries. Even those whose attitudes are currently positive towards migrants do have a history, or a potential chance of returning to non-humanistic policies. Former U.S. president Donald Trump proposed reforms and remarks negative towards migrants as a part of his presidential campaign. Though policies for reducing the import of illegal immigrants may be justified by the title ‘illegal’, it is true that his goals were towards reducing additional migrants. The Trump Administration’s family separation policy, executed from April 2018 to June 2018, separated more than 4,368 children and infants from their parents. A review done by the Biden Administration in 2021 concluded that more than 1,400 parents were deported without their children.

The U.S. government has been using other ways to control their immigration issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump Administration enforced expulsions under Title 42, whose implementation still continues under the Biden Administration. Title 42 expulsions are removals by the U.S. government of people who have recently been in a country where a communicable disease was present. They are tracked separately from expulsions related to immigration. Its prohibition of people from such countries coming to the U.S. can be prolonged for any period of time that seems necessary. In the name of Title 42 expulsions, the Trump Administration blocked land entry for many migrants.

There would be more examples from all around the world. What makes these immigration problems so important? Although immigration may bring positive outcomes, there are predicted downsides. Cities could become overpopulated, and costs of housing and renting might climb. Social disharmony from rapid immigration may lead to disagreements between different religions and cultures, and eventually to social chaos if not contained well. Despite benefits like potential entrepreneurs, a possible solution to an aging population, and a greater cultural diversity, these risks make it difficult for governments to welcome immigrants with open arms.

Even so, implementations of fierce expulsion or immigration regulation policies that do not consider migrants’ situations and their rights should not persist. They should be paused or modified to more humane and human-rights supportive alternatives. Especially, the rights of refugees must be protected as stated in international laws. Inappropriate immigration/refugee regulations negatively affect not only the immigrants themselves, but also the country itself. According to Duarte Geraldino, an American journalist, a country is the relationships, or the social circles between its people. People value their country by their social circles in it. Thus, when its social circles are weakened, a country becomes weaker.

Since it is true that mass/illegal immigration carries problems, immigration regulations to some extent are necessary. Considering the downsides of harsh immigration policies, it is important that appropriate, well planned and humane rules be applied in the issue of immigration.