Open Up Europe – Let The Migrants In

THOUSANDS of people drown trying to reach Europe — an estimated 1,250 did so in April alone. By denying desperate people the opportunity to cross borders legally, European governments are driving them to risk death.What if Europe — or the United States — took a different approach: allow people to come and go freely?Defenders of the “Fortress Europe” policy are adamant: If Europe abandoned immigration controls, it would be swamped with foreigners and our economies and societies would collapse. It’s a deep-rooted fear, as if immigrants were the barbarians at the gates.But most people don’t want to leave home at all, much less forever, and many people can’t. Those who do move don’t all want to go to the same place. And far from being a burden on society, let alone an invading army, newcomers have much to contribute.Consider the evidence. In 2004 and 2007, the European Union admitted 10 much poorer, ex-Communist countries. Since European Union citizens have the right to move freely across the union, all 100 million people in those Central and Eastern Europe states could have migrated to the richer countries.

Source: Open Up, Europe! Let Migrants In – NYTimes.com