The Problem With Immigration

Countries with open boarders are often portrayed as lands of hope. Immigrants from all across the world and from all walks of life often gravitate to these countries. In fact, most of the immigrants to these types of countries emigrate from their old countries in search of a better life. They want more prosperity. Many of these people who fit this hope-seeking new lifestyle are often from poor countries. Though it is wonderful that countries that have the luxury of supporting open boarders accept refugees, whether they are political, economical or other types of fleerers, this generosity, in most cases, can sometimes backfire.

Across the world, people are in danger. Some hear the sounds of bombs day in and day out. Others are victims of political oppression or genocide. There are few places of the world that are completely safe. In fact, I do not know of any country that is void of problems. As a result, many people want to flee. Some spend their lives waiting for a chance of a better life. They tell imagine a better life, free from whatever may be ailing them. Others are more successful and actually immigrate to the Promise Land, wherever that may be for that particular individual. According to the World Health Organization “in 1994, more than 23 million refugees had fled their homes, and an additional 26 million people had been displaced worldwide. In other words, one out of every 115 people in the world has been forced to leave home.”Regardless of the particular part of society that a causes a person to want to leave a particular country, having countries with open boarders helps satiate the hope of one day reaching safety.

Though the Open Borders concept appears wonderful on the surface, there are some problems. This foreign policy can actually endanger local civilians. It is no surprise that many of the immigrants come from developing countries. Many of these immigrants are classified as some type of refugee. The problem with this is that according to the WHO, “half of the world’s refugees may be infected with TB.” As these infected people travel to the new countries, they expose more people to this deadly virus.

Even more discouraging, immigrants from developing countries are more likely to spread an incurable form of the disease. Since many of the people from developing countries do not have access to the entire dosage of the medicine to cure the disease, their treatment is compromised. Soon enough, the disease progresses into a drug-resistant form. There is no treatment for this form of the disease at the present moment.

As the immigrants arrive in the developed countries, they bring with them not only their heritage, but also the multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. They then expose countless individuals to this disease, which is arguably a totally different disease. It is not as simple to cure as the normal strain of the disease. It is a totally different beast. As a result, the drugs that those living in developed countries normally have access to are no longer appropriate for the treatment of this disease. The infected have no other option but to die and, in the process, expose other people.

Globalization has helped facilitate a totally new creature. Let’s rethink the Open Border Policy or find some way to treat this disease.

Note: Information used from:

Anonymous. “WHO Report on the Tuberculosis Epidemic 1996,” Groups at Risk, 1996. http://www.sirs.com (accessed January 26, 2009).