Temporary Migrations and Restrictive Migratory Policies

Most of the literature on immigration sees it as a permanent phenomenon, which can best be contained by adopting strict policies of border closure. On the other hand, there is considerable historical documentation to show how often immigration is temporary. That is to say, immigrants stay for a certain period of time in the rich countries so as to accumulate wealth for later use in their countries of origin. However, full-scale border closure discourages these immigrants from returning to their own countries since they fear that, should they wish to once more migrate – compelled by those adverse circumstances that frequently afflict poor countries – it would prove difficult to do so. Thus full-scale border closure does not always bring about the desired reduction in the number of immigrants settled in the rich countries: on the contrary, it encourages family reunions, thereby further increasing the number of immigrants.