Selecting Immigrants in an Unjust World

Abstract

For many individuals living in poor societies, migration is the best hope for improving their life prospect. However, global migration today is highly selective and stratified. Affluent states often enjoy great discretion to cherry pick their immigration, favouring those with particular skills and qualifications. In this article, I argue that this practice of selective immigration is morally permissible only when a set of demanding conditions are met. I also argue that their right to exclude potential immigrants is constrained by the background distributive injustice in the global context.