Undesirable Immigrants: Why Racism Persists in International Migration

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 09 August 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 marked a significant milestone in American immigration policy, officially ending the explicit prejudice that had been in place since the 1790 restriction on naturalization to free White persons of "good character." This policy change was followed by the rest of the Anglo-European world in the 1980s, as they too purged discriminatory language from their immigration laws and sought to establish a colorblind international system. However, Andrew Rosenberg's book, Undesirable Immigrants, challenges this notion by revealing how racial inequality persists in global migration, despite the apparent end of formally racist laws.

In his book, Rosenberg argues that while contemporary leaders claim that their policies are objective and aimed solely at restricting dangerous migrants, these policies are still correlated with race. He traces the historical legacy of colonialism and White supremacy, which have catalyzed violence and undermined institutions across the world. As a result, migrants from these regions are often deemed unfit to enter the former imperial powers and their allies.

Rosenberg also highlights how postcolonial states remain embedded in a Western culture that requires them to continuously perform their statehood. The closing and policing of international borders, he argues, has become an important symbol of sovereignty, imposing harsher restrictions on non-White migrants.

To support his arguments, Rosenberg draws on a wealth of original quantitative evidence. He demonstrates that we cannot address the challenges of international migration without coming to terms with the brutal history of colonialism. By recognizing the ongoing impact of colonialism and racial inequality, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable global migration system.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691238739