World Immigration News

Nishiyama Immigration Service
> World Immigration News

Why Immigration Policy Is Hard — a guide to breaking out of the ‘infernal circle’

Release Date
2025-11-28
Media
Financial Times
Summary
Economist Alan Manning’s new book, Why Immigration Policy Is Hard, offers a balanced and deeply informed explanation of why rich countries struggle to design effective immigration rules. Drawing on his experience as chair of the UK Migration Advisory Committee, Manning argues that both pro- and anti-immigration advocates overstate evidence and remain vague about their own preferred policies — a vagueness that fuels public distrust and political polarisation.

Manning stresses that migration’s costs and benefits are nuanced: wealthy countries cannot accept everyone who wishes to come, and policymakers must inevitably draw a “moral circle” around whom they choose to help. Instead of clarity, governments often fall into what he calls an “infernal circle,” where tighter restrictions push migrants to circumvent controls, voters feel borders are out of control, and governments respond with even harsher measures.

He challenges common pro-immigration claims, such as the argument that migrants are needed to fund ageing societies. Migration can help at the margins, he says, but pension reform and other domestic policies are far more effective. He also disputes both employers’ claims that migrants boost productivity and critics’ claims that migrants sharply depress wages, noting that most economic effects are modest.

Manning highlights a key trade-off: low-wage migration often benefits locals most when migrants are stuck in undesirable jobs. Migrants improve their own lives, but the host society may become more unequal. He argues for selective, skills-focused visa policies designed with a clear eye to what might go wrong.

The most difficult challenge is refugee policy. Manning contends that the current system — in which countries are responsible only for refugees who physically reach their territory — produces injustice and wastes resources on ineffective deterrence. He proposes a radical alternative: international burden-sharing through tradeable refugee quotas. While politically unrealistic today, such a system, he argues, would be far more humane and efficient.

Ultimately, Manning concludes that politicians must craft immigration policies that voters can trust if they want to curb populism. The current system is failing — and improvement is both necessary and possible.
Tags
United Kingdom

News Articles including "United Kingdom"

Released on
Article Title
Tags
2025-11-28
Why Immigration Policy Is Hard — a guide to breaking out of the ‘infernal circle’(Financial Times)
United Kingdom
2025-11-27
UK net migration figures fall in wake of tougher immigration policies(Pinsent Masons)
United Kingdom
2025-11-26
Excessive restraint in immigration detention centres ‘deeply concerning’, report finds(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-11-23
Britain's problem isn’t immigration. It’s a profound breakdown in trust(The Observer)
United Kingdom
2025-11-21
Mahmood’s Immigration Plan Breaks Labour’s Promises(Human Rights Watch)
United Kingdom
2025-11-20
Iranian Refugees on UK's Immigration Reforms: Those Outside Undeterred, Those Inside Anxious(IRANWIRE)
United Kingdom
2025-11-18
Britain toughens asylum policy in major overhaul as anti-immigration sentiment rises(Reuters)
United Kingdom
2025-11-14
Mahmood to unveil anti-migration measures modelled on Danish system(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-11-10
UK's Labour’s Immigration White Paper: Reviewed(Oxford Law Blogs)
United Kingdom
2025-11-08
UK seeks Danish inspiration to shake up immigration system(BBC)
United Kingdom
2025-11-05
English language requirement changes under the Labour government(Electronic Immigration Network)
United Kingdom
2025-11-05
Should police reveal a suspect’s racial identity and immigration status in serious crimes?(The Conversation)
United Kingdom
2025-11-03
UK immigration fees and compliance: what employers need to know now(Dentons)
United Kingdom
2025-10-23
Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy(NHS Employers)
United Kingdom
2025-10-22
Government to seize millions from fake immigration ‘lawyers’(GOV.UK)
United Kingdom
2025-10-22
United Kingdom: Significant Immigration Fee Increases for Expedited Processing(Fragomen)
United Kingdom
2025-10-20
Further changes to the immigration system announced(NHS Employers)
United Kingdom
2025-10-16
UK Announces Significant Increase to Immigration Skills Charge and Reforms to Work Routes(Morgan Lewis)
United Kingdom
2025-10-15
Immigration and asylum: Labour, Conservative, Lib Dem, Reform and Green positions(Institute for Government)
United Kingdom
2025-10-13
The UK is failing to protect vulnerable people in immigration detention: Medical Justice Annual Review (Oxford Law Blogs)
United Kingdom
2025-09-28
High standard of English to be required for leave to remain, Mahmood to pledge(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-09-27
UK plans compulsory digital ID as populist pressure over immigration rises(ALJAZEERA)
United Kingdom
2025-09-21
Hundreds gather as immigration protest takes place(BBC)
United Kingdom
2025-09-18
The UK’s problems aren’t caused by immigration (Financial Times)
United Kingdom
2025-09-16
Immigration, the NHS and the Question of Privatisation(Electronic Immigration Network)
United Kingdom
2025-09-13
Clashes in London as 110,000 join far-right rally against immigration(ALJAZEERA)
United Kingdom
2025-09-12
An authoritarianism-compatible text changes British attitudes towards EU immigration(Nature)
United Kingdom
2025-09-11
Immigration audits: Sidestep pitfalls to avert setbacks(Electronic Immigration Network)
United Kingdom
2025-09-10
Government promises transitional period for new immigration appeal timeframes under Border Security Bill(Electronic Immigration Network)
United Kingdom
2025-09-08
Academic report exposes inaccuracies in media reporting on immigration and human rights law(Electronic Immigration Network)
United Kingdom
2025-09-04
Immigration opposition fuels English national flag frenzy(RFI)
United Kingdom
2025-08-29
Refugees staying indoors – afraid of being beaten(BBC])
United Kingdom
2025-08-26
Britain Is Getting the Immigration Debate All Wrong(TIME)
United Kingdom
2025-08-25
UK says it will reform asylum appeal process to clear backlog as anti-migrant protests outside hotels continue(CNN)
United Kingdom
2025-08-24
Anti-immigration march met by large counter group(BBC)
United Kingdom
2025-08-22
How British hotels became a flashpoint for a furious immigration debate(CNN)
United Kingdom
2025-08-21
Investigation begins into hotel being used for asylum seekers(BBC)
United Kingdom
2025-08-09
Foreign criminals convicted in UK to be deported immediately under new plans(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-08-09
Hundreds arrested in illegal delivery rider shut down  (GOV.UK)
United Kingdom
2025-08-06
Myth, reality, and perception: the strengthening of British anti-immigration attitudes(Survation)
United Kingdom
2025-08-05
Tory and Reform politicians endanger trials with immigration ‘hysteria’, say former ministers(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-08-03
More clashes and arrests at UK immigration protests(ARAB NEWS)
United Kingdom
2025-08-02
Language on immigration in UK news and politics found to have ‘shaped backlash against antiracism’(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-07-31
Medical Justice’s first immigration detention annual review highlights ongoing safeguarding failures(Electronic Immigration Network)
United Kingdom
2025-07-29
Skilled Worker immigration reforms introduced without necessary impact assessment, Lords committee says(Electronic Immigration Network)
United Kingdom
2025-07-26
Two in five arrested for last summer’s UK riots had been reported for domestic abuse(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-07-23
Understanding Visa Processing Times(Smith Stone Walters)
United Kingdom
2025-07-22
Immigration and deprivation causing UK public to lose faith in politicians, says Rayner(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-07-22
UK border officials to use AI to verify ages of child asylum seekers(The Guardian)
United Kingdom
2025-07-19
Arrests as immigration raids target workers(BBC)
United Kingdom