Voice of America: Migrants Are a Good Thing

by Dave Bennion · 2008-12-18 21:04:00 UTC
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In honor of International Migrants' Day today, the U.S. bureau of propaganda reports approvingly on statements by the International Organization for Migration promoting respect for migrants:

IOM: Migrants Are a Good Thing

The International Organization for Migration says migrants make positive contributions to the economic well being of societies. On International Migrant's Day Thursday, the IOM urges countries not to shut the door against migrants who the IOM says give more than they take.

As the world sinks deeper into recession, the International Organization for Migration says it fears migrants will become scapegoats for the things that are going wrong.

Migrants fill vital gaps

It says countries should recognize the positive contributions that migrants can make to economic growth and recovery. It says they should resist the temptation to shut the doors on them.

IOM spokeswoman Jemini Pandya tells VOA people in economic distress tend to look at migrants as being part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. She says migrants generally are a positive force for economic growth and prosperity.

"In the past, history has shown that at times of economic crisis, that there always is a structural need for migrants in any economy, mainly because there are often jobs in any country that locals cannot do or do not want to do," said Pandya. "And, this is where migrants come in and fill in the vital gaps. And, that need remains even during economic crisis."

All to the good.

This then must be a case of the left hand not knowing who the right hand is putting into shackles and orange jumpsuits, because DHS decided today to release its year-end list of achievements today (pdf).  First on the list of goals towards which progress was made:

1. Protect our Nation from Dangerous People

And DHS claims it has:

Turned the tide against illegal migration to the United States through the deployment of fencing and technology along the southern border; the implementation of unprecedented immigration enforcement efforts and operations; and the hiring of additional Border Patrol agents to meet the department's goal of employing 18,000 agents.

That doesn't sound very welcoming.  I doubt the IOM would approve.  I don't see a VOA promo forthcoming on the DHS report, though; that's strictly for domestic consumption.

Dave Bennion
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