Please note that todays article is entirely subjective. This is my perspective of how immigration policies operate.
Introduction
It seems that many people know the basic facts about how immigration policies operate but few have pieced them together as healthy versus unhealthy approach.
Given that we are now coming to the end of 2014, I would like to address a first world country (who we, as South Africans, look up too). As a South African citizen, we can see that there are first world countries who have healthy immigration policies and there are currently other first world countries with unhealthy immigration policies.
In my opinion (as I acknowledge is subjective), a healthy immigration policy is one where a first world country prioritises its own nationals over foreigners.
Foundation
There are three parties involved in immigration policies. The country in question, here after referred to as “Capital”. The neighbouring countries hereafter referred to as “Neighbour” and thirdly, the foreign countries other than the neighbouring country. Hereafter referred to as “Foreigners”.
Two part approach
A healthy policy is two parts. The first part, relates to how the Capital handles its own nationals and their dependents.
The second part of a healthy policy is how the country in question handles neighbouring (and foreign) countries and their ability to enter to live and work.
To clarify, if Capital citizens have Capital dependents, this will have no impact on immigration and therefore need not be considered in this anayltic and hypethetical assessment.
If however Capital citizens have Neighbour dependents, they should fall under a set of Capital immigration policy and the same goes for Capital citizens that have Foreign dependents. They too should fall under a similar set of rules set out in the Capital immigration policy.
Therefore immigration policy focuses on how Capital citizens can bring in Neighbours and Foreigners as dependents and it also reveals how non-family dependent Neighbours and Foreigners can obtain permission to enter the country for purposes of work and settlement.
The theory of a Healthy Immigration Policy
A healthy immigration policy can therefore be defined as a Capital that permits its citizens to bring family dependents (Neighbours or Foreigners) into the Capital easily.
Secondly, a healthy immigration policy should also restrict Neighbours and Foreigner from easily entering the Capital to live and work. This way the Capital can protect its citizens and borders and Capital employment opportunities.
The theory of an Unhealthy Immigration Policy
An unhealthy immigration policy is exactly the opposite of a healthy one. This means that a Capital that does not easily permit family dependents of its citizens into the Capital.
It also means that an unhealthy policy is where a Capital permits Neighbours and Foreigners to easily live and work in the Capital. This system does not protect its citizens and borders and the Capitals employment opportunities.
The practical implications
North America, Australia and Japan (all considered First World countries) and all have a healthy immigration policy.
The United Kingdom and Western Europe, the only other remaining First World countries, have unhealthy immigration policies in place.
The United Kingdom (the “Capital” in question) immigration policy currently “punishes” its own citizens, making it difficult for them to bring in non-EU citizen dependents (“Foreigners”) into the UK.
At the same time, the United Kingdom immigration policy permits other EU passport holders (the “Neighbour” in this context) to freely live and work in the UK. Further to this, these EU passport (the “Neighbour”) holders can also bring in non-EU citizens (the “Foreigners”) to freely live and work in the UK.
It makes no logical sense that UK residents are faced with tough immigration policies (expensive with high financial requirements and tough administration protocols) when they wish to bring non-EU citizens into the UK. Especially while neighbouring EU citizens can bring in non-EU dependents freely and easily.
History
When the EU treaty was formed, it was designed to allow freedom of movement within Europe. From this intent, the EU treaty has completed its task successfully.
What has now evolved though is a situation where the UKs borders are being exploited. Their ability to control immigration is compromised and they are no longer able to control foreigner’s impact on their local job market.
The UK’s economy is dependent on EU trade, which motivated their initial entry into the EU Treaty. However, the relationship between the EU and the UK (through the EU treaty) has slowly formed a UK immigration policy that is unhealthy.
Conclusion
British politicians are currently promising British nationals that they will continue to reduce immigration numbers, better than David Cameron of the Conservative party has. The truth is, the UK needs a dramatic and complete change in policy (and not a continued or improved upon one).
I would go as far as saying that the UK needs to rewrite their immigration policy entirely if they truly want to reverse their unhealthy status to a healthy and mutually beneficial state. Only once they have rewritten their immigration policy can they then begin to look at controlled immigration.
If you are a South African passport holder looking for UK immigration assistance, please feel free to get in contact with us.