We show that, in light of the overall economic consequences of immigration, every major ethical theory finds that existing immigration restrictions are unjust. Immigration restrictions do not fall into the special circumstances where philosophers have argued that there is an independent duty to obey the law. Thus, we conclude that it is ethical for people and businesses to interact with illegal immigrants in violation of the law.
Benjamin Powell is a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute and Director of the Free Market Institute at Texas Tech University.
Jason Brennan is Robert J. and Elizabeth Flanagan Family Professor of Strategy, Economics, Ethics, and Public Policy at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.
Business and EntrepreneurshipEconomic PolicyEconomyImmigrationLaw and Liberty
Other Independent Review articles by Benjamin Powell
Winter 2017/18 Raveling the Immigration Narrative
Spring 2016 Dynamics of Intervention in the War on Drugs
Winter 2015/16 The U.S. Economy: The New Normal and an Unsustainable Future
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