Free Movement Of Peoples
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Politics and Activism

Free Movement Of Peoples

...and what should be done to help it.

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Free Movement Of Peoples
Emily Hausheer

My friend and fellow Odyssey writer, Drew, was interested in seeing a sequel and further explanation of my views on immigration and open borders that I expressed in my previous article, "Why the EU and US Should Have Open Borders."

I do believe depending on the circumstances we should still have some regulations. Open borders (for me) doesn't mean absolute freedom.

For example, let's say a Canadian criminal escapes Canada, Canada would alert us- and we would be able to stop him at the border.

We also need to have background checks if people are coming from places that we are in open conflict with, but I believe it is a moral duty to accept the refugees.

On the other hand, we must examine what a "criminal activity" is. If a political dissident is arrested in a Communist country and is able to escape to the US and the Communist country demands the dissident back- we have a right to say "no!" because it is a human right in America to express oneself politically. In doing so, we are giving the dissident sanctuary.

I do support open borders, and I do desire for the EU to open up holiday working visas for young people from the United States just as young people from Canada and Latin America are allowed to work in France. Young people from the US should have that chance as well- especially since young Americans are so willing to move and travel.

But, I also support cautious open borders. If a known criminal or terrorist is entering the country we should rely on our intel with other countries. If the UK says, "watch out! our most wanted thief if coming your way!" we should keep an eye out.

I do believe our current immigration laws are holding us back from a truly multicultural society. Visa laws against tourists from Poland, Croatia, and Bulgaria have proven to be an outdated law that we carried over from the Soviet days- but we still have visas for those countries in place.

Poland, an increasingly powerful EU country has even threatened a retaliation visa against the US.

This is a circumstance where both the US and Poland should drop visas and leave it in the past. Poland is an alluring country for young Americans to emigrate to, and I do not see much of a problem with that. If 20,000 Americans say "let's move to Poland!" and similar Polish young people are like "hmm what is in the US anyway? let's see."
If Polish people come here and do business, we can get more exposure to Polish films, food, and the Polish language.
In turn, we can share more things with Poland through a friendly relationship instead of one of revenge. Of course, if a known terrorist lives in Poland they have a responsibility to alert us through an international alert system. But for the most part, Americans emigrating to Poland are young, educated and looking for jobs that pay better (same with people coming here).

This is the same with France. France, (like Poland) is one of the countries that young Americans are most interested in emigrating to. All EU Citizens have the right to work in France. France even offers working holiday visas to people from many countries-- except the United States.

Does France hate us? No! Not any more than we "hate" Poland.

It is an outdated visa requirement that even most French people are unaware of. I actually tweeted with part of the French Embassy about this and it ensued in a very interesting exchange about cultural dialogue. Both the United States and France are very interested in more cultural dialogue. Both countries have friendly relations, and both have a long history of being allies. But we can't freely exchange culture due to dated bureaucracy rules.

There is a popular stereotype in the United States that "the world hates us!" or "French people look down on us and hate Americans!"

I interned in France for 3 months and didn't notice any anti-Americanism. I did notice some nationalist stuff but that was general against all foreigners (sadly, nationalism is on the rise everywhere). I talked with a missionary friend of American origin, but she has been a French citizen for 30 years- and she said that she has rarely encountered anybody who is anti-American.

How did this stereotype start? I have a suspicion it may have been from American tourists going to France without learning French. I'm not fully sure though.

When it comes down to it, yes- I think we need a lot less regulations on immigration. I'm all for people from Latin America, Europe, Canada, the Middle East and anywhere coming over here. I'm a strong proponent of being able to work in whatever country you want to work in, and your citizenship should not hold you back from success. We should be a refuge for the oppressed.
But I do believe we need some better background checks if a known criminal or terrorist is escaping one country and going to another.

The free movement of people to live and work whereever they want, and exchange cultural and scientific knowledge is a human right. Like all human rights this doesn't mean there should be no laws, but very few to prevent the misuse of this right.







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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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