Immigration has been on the American national agenda for some time, with many complaining that immigration is out of hand and that limitations on immigration are needed. One issue is whether too many people are coming from certain regions of the world, or whether those who are coming are sufficiently prepared to take their place in the American economic system. Internationally, the immigration picture is even more difficult, with many immigrants moving from one place to another to escape war, persecution, and economic devastation. Immigration is usually treated as a political issue, certainly a domestic political issue for the country receiving large numbers of refugees or immigrants, but also as an international political issue because it affects how contiguous countries behave toward one another. Immigration is also a human rights issue, for people who are persecuted, frightened, and poor should be given the opportunity to improve their lot if possible. Escaping the persecution of an abusive regime is always a human rights issue, and it affects international immigration policies directly. An analysis shows the way immigration reflects international human rights concerns.
Some two percent of the world's population are migrants or refugees, and most lack basic human rights. While the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes a citizen's right to leave a country, nothing is said about rights following the arrival in another country, and often this is a greater problem. More than 100 million people around the world are living in countries where they are not citizens, and another 23 million are displaced in their own countries. In spite of the huge numbers of people involved, constitutions, laws, and governments restrict the rights of these people to move freely, to speak, and to be heard. In addition, the present structure of recognized human rights provides no framework within which the rights of migrants can be dis...