The Netherlands passed two major asylum laws just before the summer to get a tighter grip on migration. Other Western countries also want stricter policies and at the European level, people are also thinking along these lines. According to Giacomo Solano, senior assistant professor of Migrant Inclusion at the Department of Economics and Business Economics, this solves nothing and will create problems. He spoke to MEPs (members of the European Parliament) about this. 'If you make it more restrictive, documented migration will just be replaced by undocumented migration.'
They enter our country in large numbers, steal our jobs, cause nuisance and increase crime. The negative assumptions about migrants are numerous and often have little to do with reality. 'Of course there are challenges surrounding migration,' says Solano, 'but the idea that integration is impossible and that it is something that cannot be supported is a myth.'
Just the opposite is the case, his research shows. 'Good integration policy means that migrants are given important rights, such as the right to work, and that they receive support, for example with a language course and an education. By doing so, you get happy and healthy people, who in the long run have a better position in society.' This way, according to Solano, you make the best use of their potential. 'Also, this policy ensures that society is more open to migrants and has more trust in them.'
Admission and integration
According to Solano, migration policy can be improved considerably with a holistic approach, which considers the admission and integration of migrants as a whole. 'Policymakers and academics have so far kept admission and integration separate, but actually they are two sides of the same coin. If you get a residence permit, that is not the end of the journey, integration begins. At the same time: if you don't get a residence permit or if your residence permit limits your rights, then integration becomes very difficult.'
In the second case, reality is different from paper reality, Solano explains. 'Research shows that restrictive policies are counterproductive. Undocumented migrants and migrants who have received deportation orders often stay in the country. In addition, under restrictive admission policies, documented migration will be replaced by undocumented migration. Migrants will keep coming regardless. This will only worsen integration in the country.' Moreover, restrictive policies do not lead to better integration of those who are admitted either. Solano: 'Figures show that this has hardly any impact. It affects newcomers' job opportunities only slightly.'
With good integration policy, you help migrants as well as society.
European Parliament
Recently, Solano was in Brussels and spoke with some fellow researchers before a group from the European Parliament. The group consisted of 20 people who are MPs or closely associated with parliament, such as analysts and people working for NGOs. 'There was a lot of debate and the response was good. They agreed with our conclusions. But it will take a long time for them to translate our research findings into policy. For that, it has to go through all sorts of layers of decision-making.'
On top of that, policymakers who are negative towards migration were not present. 'People who are interested in the topic listened to me attentively. People who are not open to it are not at all interested in the possibilities of migration policy.'
Disappointing
Solano calls it disappointing how part of politics currently deals with migration. 'There is a lot of polarisation, spurred on by ideology, public opinion and misconceptions. In doing so, politicians create more problems and more frustration, among residents, migrants and society as a whole.' While, according to him, you can also go for a win-win situation. 'With good integration policy, you help migrants as well as society.'
Rhetorical
He does see a bright spot: the desire for stricter policy has so far been mostly rhetorical. Border policy really is becoming more restrictive, as can now be seen in the United States. But integration policy is actually moving more in the inclusive direction. On that point, policymakers often opt for a pragmatic approach anyway, think for instance of migrant workers who are badly needed in some economic sectors. In that respect, some politicians do exactly the opposite of what they say.'
More information on this topic can be found in the recently published book The Admission and Integration of Refugees in Europe compiled by Giacomo Solano with his colleagues Sebastian Meyer and Salvatore Fabio Nicolosi.
Text: Willem Claassen