Mich "Disrupting the state-centred philosophy of immigration and making sense of citizen movements to welcome immigrants"

Mardi intime de la Chaire Hoover par Andrès Salazar

approaches in the philosophy of immigration are often aligned with two standard positions: defending the state’s sovereignty in controlling immigration or the right of individuals to immigrate. Although the standard debate has produced an extensive literature, its theoretical foundations seem to lack the sensitivity to conceptualise and assess other dimensions relevant to immigration control.

Policies regulating immigration affect not only potential and effective immigrants but also citizens, and they do so in myriad ways.

A particularly troubling impact of immigration control is the coercion or punishment of actions led by civil society in support or association with immigrants. In response to the effect that immigration policies have on locals, I propose a theoretical framework to capture normative claims of citizens regarding their freedom to engage with immigrants, including unauthorised ones. I then advance a normative argumentation to strengthen the right of citizens not to be criminalised for actions related to migrant solidarity, based on freedom of association and the liberty to comply with moral duties of humanitarian aid and special obligations in solidarity relationships.