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Closing of West: Has Trump won his decade-long argument about immigration?

2 min read

Is the West’s Great Experiment with Openness Ending?

The Western world, including Europe, North America, and Japan, is becoming less receptive to foreign students, workers, and refugees. This trend reflects a marked departure from the openness observed half a decade ago. The question arises whether this shift can be attributed to the influence of Donald Trump, whose political career began a decade ago.

Donald Trump’s Influence

  • Rhetoric and Political Strategy:
    • Trump's political career was launched with controversial remarks about Mexican immigrants, labeling them as criminals.
    • These statements resonated with a segment of the population, allowing him to dominate the Republican primary by pushing out mainstream candidates.
    • Trump’s rhetoric has escalated, with accusations against immigrants and refugees, often with misinformation, to capture media attention and bolster his support base.
  • Presidential Actions:
    • Immigration agents are reportedly deporting individuals without due process, targeting them based on appearance.
    • Efforts to repeal birthright citizenship are underway, potentially affecting the children of migrants.
    • There are considerations to use denaturalization laws to deport naturalized citizens, particularly targeting political opponents.
  • Impact on Education and Research:
    • Crackdowns on foreign students and researchers are intensifying, with prestigious institutions facing funding cuts for opposing government policies.
    • Visa applicants are required to make social media accounts public, allowing authorities to scrutinize them for undesired opinions.
    • Even visitors face interrogation based on misinterpretations of digital communications.
  • Global Leadership and Competitiveness:
    • The hostile environment created by these policies could undermine US global leadership and economic competitiveness.

European Context

  • Germany’s Migrant Policy:
    • A decade ago, Germany welcomed 300,000 Syrian migrants, receiving over a million asylum applications during 2015-2016.
    • This policy has influenced political dynamics across Europe.
  • United Kingdom and Brexit:
    • The UK’s Brexit vote was driven by desires to “take back control” of borders.
    • Post-Brexit, migration from non-European countries, especially India, has increased significantly.
    • Current political debates focus on accusations of an “open borders experiment” leading to a transformative demographic shift.
  • European Political Climate:
    • Mainstream politicians in Europe are gradually erecting barriers to immigration, though avoiding Trump-like rhetoric.
  • Tags :
  • Openness
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