Ethics and Politics of Asylum and Migration Dissertation

Ethics and Politics of Asylum and Migration - Dissertation Example In this regard migration is aligned with abuses of the internal market by criminals and terrorists. Essentially asylum-seekers and immigrants are characterized as presenting a threat to domestic economics and security. 4 On the other side of the argument, it is suggested that many of the asylum seekers and illegal immigrants are from third world countries and are therefore immediately subject to cultural and quite often racial occlusion.5 There is also the concern that stronger border controls merely result in immigrants and asylum-seekers using other more dangerous methods for escaping poverty, exploitation and human rights abuses.6 These opposing views relative to the strengthening of border control raise some important issues. First and foremost, in light of the increase in the threat of international terrorism and international criminal organisations, is cultural occlusion justified? More particularly, is cultural occlusion a deliberate outcome or is it merely a coincidence? This paper provides a critical analysis of these issues and in doing so identifies whether or not there is a resolution to the realistic concerns about international terrorism and international criminal activities particularly human and drug trafficking. The question is therefore, whether or not a resolution could viably filter out would-be terrorists and criminals and at the same time permit legitimate asylum-seekers and immigrants’ entry across borders in such a way that it does not raise suspicions of cultural occlusion and racism. I. Border Control: Definition Globalization has two sides. It not only facilitates the mobility of goods and people, it also facilitates the movement of terrorists, weapons, illegal drugs, illegal aliens and illnesses. It therefore appears that the most viable solution to this dilemma is the strengthening of border controls.7 However, any discussion of strengthening border control is easier said than done since border control involves a number of co mplex issues, particularly conflicting interests of the various stakeholders. In order to understand these complex issues it is necessary to first evaluate what border control is and what it means to the various stakeholders in the wider context of customary international law. In most countries, such as the US, Canada, Mexico and countries within Africa, Asia and the European Union, border control involves four significant points of entry. These points of entry are airports, sea ports, land points of entry and unofficial land and sea ports of entry. The unofficial points of entry, are the points used for the most part by traffickers, smugglers, migrants and quite possibly terrorists.8 The main question is therefore, the feasibility of balancing the interests of the stakeholders in any plan to strengthen border control. Although strengthening border control could conceivably increase the incentive for smugglers, terrorists, and traffickers to use unofficial points of entry it would a lso increase incentives for legitimate asylum-seekers and other migrants to use unofficial points of entry. This is particularly troublesome for asylum-seekers and