Libertarian perspectives on immigration

Free immigration (free movement of people) is regarded as one of the core concepts of libertarian theory and philosophy.[1][2][3][4] Libertarians assert that: "Efforts by the government to manage the labor market are as apt to fail as similar efforts to protect domestic industries or orchestrate industrial policy. [...] If an immigrant seeks to engage in peaceful, voluntary transactions that do not threaten the freedom or security of the native-born, the government should not interfere."[5]

The current United States Libertarian Party Platform states that Libertarians are prepared to welcome refugees, and the LP works against discriminatory policies. In addition it states that a free market requires the free movement of both capital and labor across borders. The platform does allow for control over the entry of people who pose a credible threat to security, health, or property.[6] Older platform stances were more pro-open borders. The 2004 Platform called for "the elimination of all restrictions on immigration, the abolition of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Border Patrol, and a declaration of full amnesty for all people who have entered the country illegally".[7] Due to fears from the 2001 Terrorist attack, this was changed to permit some immigration controls.

Libertarian proponents of free immigration

A number of present-day libertarians argue for open borders or for radically expanded and liberalized immigration drawing on primarily libertarian arguments.[8] These include George Mason University economist Bryan Caplan,[9][10][11][12] Michael Huemer,[13][14] Donald Boudreaux,[15] Alex Nowrasteh,[16] Ken Schoolland, Will Wilkinson, David R. Henderson,[17][18] Jason Brennan[2] and others.

Libertarian author Jacob Hornberger, a proponent of freer immigration policies,[19][20] argues that open-borders is the only libertarian immigration position.[21]

Open Borders blogger John Lee argued, in a blog post critical of economist and Republican candidate Dave Brat, argued that support for open borders is a fundamental libertarian position.[3]

Jeffrey Tucker, Director of Content at the Foundation for Economic Education,[22] has been critical of the closed-border arguments made by conservative-leaning libertarians:[23][24]

This is a huge debate among people who otherwise swear fealty to "limited government." Many people who claim to want freedom seem to have no problem with the implications of a closed-border policy: national IDs, national work permits, non-stop surveillance, harassment of all businesses, a "papers please" culture, mass deportation, tens of billions in waste, bureaucrats wrecking the American dream, broken families, [and] the rights of Americans and foreigners transgressed at every turn.[23]

Moderate proponents of free immigration

Libertarian-leaning George Mason University economist and Marginal Revolution blogger Tyler Cowen has argued in favor of freer migration while also being a critic of radical open borders.[25] In response Cowen’s arguments against open borders have been heavily criticized.[25]

Gary Johnson, presidential candidate of the United States Libertarian Party in 2012 and 2016, believes two approaches to immigration should be implemented: (1) "simplify legal immigration" and (2) "tackle illegal immigration."[26] He says, "Immigration into the United States by ambitious, willing workers and their families is a good thing. Not only is it a historical and energizing part of American culture and experience, it is vital to our economy. These positive benefits should not be sacrificed or reduced in any solution to stop illegal immigration."[27]

Critics of free immigration

Hans-Hermann Hoppe has argued much in his writings about open borders being against anarcho-capitalist theory.[28] Other libertarian writers have argued that his writings on the topic are inconsistent with libertarian principles.[29]

On 12 January 2009 the Libertarian Party in the United Kingdom was criticized by No Border Network for having authoritarian and anti-libertarian policies on immigration, in particular the treatment of asylum seekers.[4]

Some libertarian thinkers, including Stefan Molyneux and Christopher Cantwell, have become more openly hostile towards free immigration with the rise in popularity of the alt-right.[30][31] This trend has been subject to controversy.[24][30]

References

  1. ↑ Brennan, Jason (2012). Libertarianism, What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press. pp. 42, 50, 119, 125. [Libertarians] believe everyone has the right to take employment in any other country, regardless of citizenship. They hold that, except in special circumstances, governments may not forbid citizens from leaving a country, nor may governments forbid foreigners from entering. (Page 42)
  2. 1 2 Brennan, Jason. "Immigration Rights". Libertarianism.org. Retrieved 2016-09-21.
  3. 1 2 Lee, John (18 June 2014). "Support for open borders is a fundamental tenet of libertarianism, and David Brat is not a libertarian". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Libertarian? hmmmm….". No Borders South Wales. 2009-01-12. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  5. ↑ Hamowy, Ronald, ed. (2008). The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism. SAGE. p. 236.
  6. ↑ http://www.lp.org/platform
  7. ↑ http://www.lpedia.org/2004_Libertarian_Party_Platform#Immigration
  8. ↑ "Pro-open borders people". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  9. ↑ Caplan, Bryan. "Caplan on Immigration". EconTalk (hosted by Russ Roberts).
  10. ↑ Caplan, Bryan (Winter 2012). "Why Should We Restrict Immigration?" (PDF). Cato Journal.
  11. ↑ Caplan, Bryan (2013-01-02). "My Path to Open Borders". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
  12. ↑ "Bryan Caplan". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  13. ↑ Huemer, Michael. "Is There A Right To Immigrate?". Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  14. ↑ Huemer, Michael (2013-02-18). "Citizenism and open borders". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  15. ↑ Boudreaux, Donald (12 September 2007). "Libertarians & immigration". Archived from the original on 2013-06-30.
  16. ↑ Nowrasteh, Alex (11 August 2016). "15 Common Arguments against Immigration, Addressed". FEE.
  17. ↑ Henderson, David (June 2012). "Tear Down These Walls". The Freeman. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  18. ↑ "David Henderson". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  19. ↑ Hornberger, Jacob (November 1, 1994). "The Case for Unilateral Free Trade and Open Immigration". The Future of Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  20. ↑ Hornberger, Jacob (February 1, 2000). "Let's Stick with Traditional American Values!". The Future of Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  21. ↑ Hornberger, Jacob (May 19, 2016). "Open Borders Is the Only Libertarian Immigration Position". The Future of Freedom Foundation. Retrieved 2016-09-22.
  22. ↑ "Jeffrey A. Tucker". Foundation for Economic Education. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  23. 1 2 Tucker, Jeffrey (2015-09-14). "Why Open Borders?". Foundation for Economic Education. Retrieved 2016-11-20.
  24. 1 2 Tucker, Jeffrey (2016-08-26). "Five Differences Between the Alt-Right and Libertarianism". Foundation for Economic Education. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  25. 1 2 "Tyler Cowen". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  26. ↑ Gary Johnson 2012 (2011). "Immigration". Gary Johnson 2012: Issues (official site). Gary Johnson 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  27. ↑ Our America Initiative (2011). "Immigration". Our America Initiative: Issues. Our America Initiative. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  28. ↑ "Anarcho-capitalist counterfactual". Open Borders: The Case. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  29. ↑ Guenzl, Simon (23 June 2016). "Public Property and the Libertarian Immigration Debate". Libertarian Papers. 8 (2016). [...]I conclude that supporting a legitimate role for the state as an immigration gatekeeper is inconsistent with Rothbardian and Hoppean libertarian anarchism, as well as with the associated strategy of advocating always and in every instance reductions in the state’s role in society.
  30. 1 2 Hayashi, Stuart (2016-08-02). "A Libertarian Icon's Descent Into Racist Pseudoscience". Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  31. ↑ https://christophercantwell.com/2015/09/28/open-borders-or-market-immigration/
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/22/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.