Why are we not allowed to move freely throughout the whole world?

Question

Why do we have immigration laws and border patrol? What would be so wrong with everyone being able to live where ever they wanted?

Answer 1

Because the system is a mess. A percentage of people have to ruin it for everyone. With all that is going on in the world its hard to remember that the majority of people who live on this planet are good natured and well-behaved souls. If only we could've been founded on values of love and brotherhood, instead of the biased, racist Christian ideals which have lead us to bitter hostility within our own country, and world.

Answer 2

Because every country (i.e. nation ) has what is so wonderfully known as sovereignty which essentially means that every self governing nation has the right and the authority to guard their territory as they see fit. Without a nation's sovereignty there would be anarchy. Perhaps that would be appealling to some but without sovereignty the US or any other country for that matter would not have any order. It's funny that you would ask that question, because nations such as say, Mexico have very stringent policies regarding immigration. In summary the Mexican constitution states the following:

Immigrants and foreign visitors are banned from public political discourse.
• Immigrants and foreigners are denied certain basic property rights.
• Immigrants are denied equal employment rights.
• Immigrants and naturalized citizens will never be treated as real Mexican citizens.
• Immigrants and naturalized citizens are not to be trusted in public service.
• Immigrants and naturalized citizens may never become members of the clergy.
• Private citizens may make citizens arrests of lawbreakers (i.e., illegal immigrants)
and hand them to the authorities.
• Immigrants may be expelled from Mexico for any reason and without due process.


Mexico was even cited recently by the UN for its harsh treatment of Guatemalan immigrants and yet somehow when referring to the US's policy regarding immigration, the US is made out to appear as if it is an unfair and bigoted nation. I know about bigotry and the effects thereof first hand in the US however I find it quite hypocritical of the Mexican government or any other government to chastise the US when it actually has one of the most lenient immigration policies in the world currently.

Simply put, you can indeed live where you like but it must be in accordance with the laws and policies of the respective nation where you want to live. If you come with the mindset of being a true contributing citizen and not a parasite who only wants to be here to usurp the authority of those who as born and naturalized citizens work daily to keep the American dream alive, then you won't have a problem with doing what the law requires you to in order to become a US citizen!

Answer 3

Good question, however, it could never be this way. it would be impossible to fully explain to you why this is the case, but maybe I could sum it up for you. 1.) Money. If each country willingly let people come and go as they please, how could they keep getting a steady influx of tax revenue? Every person needs to be accounted for so that they can pay their taxes. This is probably the #1 reason. 2.) Safety and Stability if any country just let any "Joe" past their border, could you imagine the trouble that would cause? Look at 9/11 for example...terrorism...political uprising and guerilla forces. Given enough time any country could be infiltrated with the right motivation and forces. 3.) Illicit Drug and Arms trafficing. Anyone whose anyone could bring anything with them across any border and whose to know? I wouldn't want that going on in my town, I don't kow about you. Now if everyone in the world were like you or me (God forbid) the aqforementioned issues would not be issues. Unfortunately there are some greedy misled and messed up people in the world. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

People are mammals. As mammals we are territorial, and feel a need to define are own personal space. Also people are socially comparable to locusts we move to the most fertile areas use all the natural resources and then move on to the next most fertile area. How do we regulate over use of an area if anyone is allowed to live where they want? How do we regulate overpopulation if everyone is flocking to the most fertile places? It may not sound kind or right, but if we don't maintain some degree of control over how many people can live where we could very well find everywhere being a third world country.

Answer 5

Go ask the Chinese, Russians, and North Koreans that question.

As to why the US does read your history books. At one time we had no immigration laws. And then there came a time when there were too many people coming into America. The society of the time couldn't absorb and assimilate them quickly enough and caused major problems.

The wrong part is America can't hold the number who want to come here now and you want open borders?

You have a computer. Google your question for more informatrion, You will probably get more than your brain can absorb. Why don't you just let it all come in?

Answer 6

Because with freedom comes significant responsibility and some people have shown that they are incapable of handling that type of responsibility. Also, there are people who would abuse that freedom to literally escape the law.

Also, consider that economies are not that simple. It's a delicate balance and having a major influx of people into one region or country could quite feasibly cripple that economy.

I have nothing against immigration. Actually, I believe it's a wonderful thing as it allows people social, economic and religious freedoms that they might not otherwise have. Although the current immigration laws might need amending, I think it's important that laws are present and enforced.

Freedom without boundaries is chaos.

Answer 7

It's something relatively recent. Prior to World War I, population movement was by and large unrestricted (with exceptions, such as the Chinese exclusion in the U.S.) After World War I, countries began to erect immigration barriers. In many cases, there was a rather primitive xenophobia involved (in the U.S., for example, the modern immigration rules were enacted in 1922 in response to surging Italian and Jewish immigration). Other contributing factors were the ever-declining cost of transportation (more and more people could move if they so chose) and the spread of Communism (many governments were afraid to import a potentially dangerous ideology).

Answer 8

Americans and Western Europeans for the most part can travel almost everywhere in the world. Basically those from poor countries would flood the Western modern nations and the 3rd world nations would be emptied out pretty quickly. Western nation's living standards would be lowered more quickly than they already are. This is a harsh reality, but true.

Answer 9

If there were no schools or health care that might work. But over time some countries, but not others, set up schools where those who are not poor pay for education of those who are poor, and began to pay for their poor to have basic health care, etc. When poor people, whose taxes don't begin to cover the cost of their services, enter a country they cost it money and cause a drain on the services of the country which begin to become degraded. The bigger the number of poor immigrants, the bigger the problem.

The rich are welcome pretty much anywhere, because they pay their way in taxes, and then some. The poor don't.

In the US, where I live, we do let in some poor immigrants, and let in those who qualify for asylum. However, we have to limit our number of poor immigrants to protect our schools and services for our own people.

Answer 10

To be an immigrant to the U.S. you have to earn it. That means to go through legal channels and get proper papers. Illegals are just that...illegal!

I was married to a military man and when he was sent to Germany, my son and I were required to get passports and shots. We had to have authorization to enter the country.

We were looked at by german customs. Id's were checked and our luggage searched it insure we werent carrying anything illegal.

If you dont respect a country's laws, you shouldnt be allowed to enter. No non citizen has the legal right to cross national borders. It is a privledge. Not a right and you have to earn it.