Reasons against Migration
The human race has been civilized around movement of people and goods, and the trend of migration has revolved around the needs of people for different centuries. Migration hasn’t always been widely accepted with many conflicts emerging from displacement of people from their ancestral environments by those more powerful than them. While most migrations are prompted by conflicts, it doesn’t always end in peace since there emerges opposition to new occupation of migrants in different territories.
Centuries of migration led to displacement of indigenous communities from their ancestral lands by populations who barely had any attachments to the land. Many of the indigenous communities were rendered powerless by their forceful evictors who had heavy artillery at their disposal. They ended up confining them to limited spaces where they were not able to practice their indigenous lifestyle and rituals. These communities permanently lost claims to their extensive ancestral lands, and a sense of belonging found in a communal way of living. They had to adapt to new norms that clashed with their culture because the aggressor forced them to integrate into modern civilization.
Modern migration trends in the 21st century also have a displacement effect since developed nations have had to deal with refugees and economic migrants. Migration for economic reasons has been prevalent over the decades from poorer nations to rich nations. The reasons for migration sound noble and unlikely to invoke any resistance until natives feel like minorities. The rise of multiculturalism and erosion of native heritage dwarf the noble reasons why these immigrants were accepted by host communities. It’s further exacerbated by the feeling that migrants overpower rather than integrate into their host communities. Soaring cost of living force natives to immigrate to places they feel they can regain a sense of normalcy which is usually in rural communities.
Migration without borders has been encouraged by globalization but has led to overpopulation in some areas of the world than others. People don’t just migrate anywhere in the world but only in places they have protection of freedoms and a better life. Most nations will experience a surge of migrants and a strain of public and economic resources such as jobs, healthcare and education. This competition has a destabilizing factor and builds up resentment against migrants.
The reasons against migration are valid, but are exaggerated by the social problems and economic inequalities blamed on migration. Compelling reasons against uncontrolled migration should not fuel apathy for at-risk migrants who want to build up their lives and positively contribute to nation building. Deterrence on migration has been by forceful inhumane means hence the debate on how to stop migration where it’s no longer sustainable has failed.
Today’s migration seems like a risky venture since nations do not know what they are inviting in with increased international migration due to conflict. The concept of liberty for migrants should not destroy the achievement of liberty that a nation has already achieved for its native citizens hence migrants should not displace the established communities and norms.