To find the solution to immigration, one should look to integration.
Immigration is a hot topic. What is the solution to Immigration? Embracing Nativism and rejecting replacement? Or bracing for extremism to flood Europe?
If one embraces nativism, one rejects the idea of foreign labor as a means to compensate for an aging population. Europe’s working age population is shrinking and its elderly population is increasing.
On the other hand, many claim that open borders may allow for extremists and other perpetrators of violence to enter Europe. This sentiment has been shared by the likes of Tommy Robinson, Viktor Orban, Donald Trump, and Geert Wilders.
All strongmen who have sought to liberate their countries from what they see as the evils of multiculturalism. They perceive the problems of Europe to originate in the liberal ideals that view immigration as good for economic growth. Instead, they see immigration as bringing societal decline, violence and crime to Europe.
As an op-ed writer for The Lennon Wall, I look to subjects that may seem perplexing and unsolvable. Some may see immigration in this light. However, when dissecting this dilemma and looking deep into the details, one finds a clear solution: effective integration.
Effective integration is when an outsider feels at home and is accepted into the community of the country of residence. There are various manners into how this process works. One is by giving courses on the culture of residence. Therefore, people can understand their new homeland with ease. The other is by offering temporary financial assistance to assure the new laborer that they will be accommodated for.
Offering basic services such as healthcare, temporary housing and language courses allow people to not only integrate but also to use their skills fully in the labor market.
Courses on the laws and governance of the country of residence would also be crucial to helping people understand the governing structures and rules of their society. Courses on language, culture and respect for law of the country of residence should be compulsory. No exceptions.
If the migrant laborer does not wish to integrate, they can work with the residential government for a temporary stay as a guest worker. In exchange, natives of the country of residence should see immigrants as joining their community, instead of replacing them.
This is easier said than done.
Mass unemployment of people (whether migrant or native) can lead to social withdrawal of a laborer and make them feel isolated in a community.
Anyone marginalized economically can feel left out of a community. In turn, migrants are stereotypically seen as benefactors of a welfare state or taking advantage of the benefits given to them by the country of residence and giving nothing in return.
This leads to anguish by some of the native population who feel left out. This can coincide with segregated communities from one another.
I have found many who say that immigrants do not want to integrate believe that they segregate themselves from the native population and refuse to learn either the language or culture of the country of residence.
The catch, not only have many Europeans and Americans told me this, but also immigrants themselves share this sentiment.
Why? Because the rationale for both is the same. No one wants criminals, vagabonds or parasitic manipulators of government benefits in their community. No one wants an “invasion” of their community.
Everyone wants a safe community where everyone feels secure. Leaving either an immigrant or native out of this community leads to problems further down the road.
What is the solution? Effective integration of both migrant and native laborer so no sizable community is left marginalized.
