Immigration
controls by rich countries are mean. They close out the poor and vulnerable who
only want the chance to make a better life. They are characterised by arbitrary
rules whose effects can be inhumane - breaking up families, locking up
children, deporting good people to uncertain futures in godforsaken countries,
etc. So the left is quite comfortable blaming conservatives for the whole
idea. But in reality, social democrats need immigration controls for their cherished
welfare state to function. They're just happy to let the conservatives take the
rap.
