Unjust Borders: Individuals And The Ethics Of Immigration By Javier Hidalgo

Unjust Borders: Individuals and the Ethics of Immigration by Javier Hidalgo

Introduction

"Unjust Borders: Individuals and the Ethics of Immigration" is a groundbreaking work that delves into the ethical complexities surrounding immigration. In this extensive book report, I aim to explore the key themes, arguments, and insights presented by the author. Hidalgo, a prominent philosopher and political theorist, challenges conventional notions of borders and immigration, offering a thought-provoking analysis that encourages readers to critically examine their beliefs and moral principles. The book makes the case that unauthorized migrants can permissibly evade, deceive, and use defensive force against immigration agents, that smugglers can aid migrants

Hidalgo challenges the prevailing assumption that a person's place of birth or nationality should determine their access to opportunities and resources. He argues that such a stance is fundamentally unjust and discriminatory, and that a more inclusive understanding of human rights should transcend national borders. The author holds that immigration restrictions are systematically unjust and examines how individual actors should respond to this injustice. Additionally, individuals can rightfully resist immigration restrictions and often have strong moral reasons to subvert these laws.

The author holds that most people accept the moral premises that include it’s wrong to coerce other people without good reason, you should help someone in need if it’s not costly for you, or you shouldn’t contribute to violating someone’s rights if you can avoid doing so at low-cost.

The first argument is Freedom of Movement, which holds that if states respect basic liberties and restrictions on freedom of movement curtail these liberties, then states should respect freedom of movement. Freedom of movement is a constitutive part of important liberties like freedom of association and occupational freedom. Freedom of movement is itself a component of, or part of, valuable liberties. The author

Indeed, the economist Branko Milanovic finds that location of birth is the biggest predictor of a person’s lifetime income. Your prospects in life are probably determined less by your class or sex than by the place where you were born. If location determines your prospects, then immigration restrictions would cause millions of potential migrants’ possible deprivation. Additionally, historical evidence supports the view that immigration can be a potent force for reducing poverty and inequality across the globe. Thus, immigration is good for the global