Migration is a polarising argument, creating more heat than light among people with extreme views, both liberal and conservative. But is there a golden middle road we can follow to reasoned debate? We can only hope so.

In Australia, this is an election year and political epithets about immigration are flying like verbal paintballs. Certain conservative politicians are inciting fear and encouraging misconceptions for quick political gain.

Down Mexico way, protesters about the US state of Arizona’s new immigration law wore Ku Klux Klan outfits when they protested in front of the US Embassy. On two sides, illegal immigration claims have become the theatre of fear and insult.

This is no way to solve problems. Fairness and well-reasoned argument have become early casualties in an often-heated debate.

Surely an immigration policy means striking a balance between idealism and pragmatism, economic need and market demand. These subjects are tough enough without overdrawn hype.

President Obama has said that Arizona’s new illegal immigration law threatens “to undermine the basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans”. He’s right, we need to be fair. And we need to look at the facts.

Can we weigh the legitimate concerns of first-world people trying to maintain stable conditions in their home countries against the urgent needs of poor immigrants, some of them truly endangered people, and achieve an adequately balanced result?

Illegal immigration, in particular, is a global problem and there is probably no perfect solution. Although improved conditions in immigrants’ home countries is obviously a good start. We are not going to get anywhere, however, by shouting slogans and stoking fears. Pragmatism and a middle way are our best tools.

In Australia we have a regulated legal migration intake and we have illegals. Statistics show that most illegals here arrive on commercial flights using short-term visas and overstay them. These are generally not deprived people and many take on useful seasonal jobs that help our economy. These facts are rarely mentioned.

Instead, a great fuss is made over needy and disadvantaged people who attempt the sea crossing to Australia on leaky boats. Most of these “boat people” come from strife-torn countries, such as Afghanistan, Iraq, nations in east Africa, and Sri Lanka, Many are fleeing war, many claim persecution at home. After their claims are processed, the great majority of “boat people” are accepted as refugees.

In the short term, new arrivals cost our taxpayers money in providing services – although in recent years private Australian charities have done, and been called to do, much to help refugees and new arrivals.

Back in the 1970s, Australia’s “boat people” were largely from Vietnam and these immigrants have settled in here and made a notable contribution to our society. They are still doing so. Australia had benefitted enormously from immigrants who have swelled our workforce, created business activity and enriched our cultural life.

It’s a case of short-term cost and long-term benefit.

In Australia, we have genuine matters to weigh up. How many immigrants can we integrate into our society effectively? What level of increased population can Australia’s ecology sustain? Ours is the driest inhabited continent in the world and we need to be realistic about how many people our thirsty, ancient land can supply with water and food.

In US states such as Arizona, what is the true effect of floods of people crossing the border? Statistically, what are the crime figures? What is the economic benefit immigrants bring?

Hasty and emotive answers are not the best ones. In both the US and Australia, let us try to look calmly at these questions.

Let us not forget, either, that behind every statistic there are real human beings like ourselves who, as we do, want food and a roof over their heads, education for their children and a chance at a decent life.

We are people too and we have a right to balance our own needs against those of others. However, we should try to balance fairly and not be influenced by highly stoked emotions. Then we have some hope of arriving at solutions that, as President Obama said, achieve “basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans” – and as Australians.

Image Courtesy of Joel Barbee

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