Is mass deportation ethical?

Luis (No)

While every country needs to have its immigration rules and make deportations whenever necessary, mass deportations can never be considered ethical. Every country around the world has a moral responsibility to protect vulnerable populations within its borders, including asylum seekers and refugees. Given this situation, mass deportations violate that ethical duty as they send people back to dangerous conditions. In fact, there are many occasions where the countries that people are migrating to are responsible for their nations’ chaos.

Mass deportations are also unethical because of the economic impact that they generate on the country, considering that numerous studies have shown that immigrants usually contribute significantly to the economy. Basically, mass deportations not only impact communities that rely on migrant labor but also reduce the labor force and even harm private businesses.

Additionally, mass deportations can easily lead to some of the most basic human rights violations, which include protection from persecution, family unity, and especially the right to due process. Also, mass deportations usually result in family separation, which experts point out can cause psychological and emotional trauma not only to children but also to adults, as it represents the total disruption of families.

Finally, mass deportations are unethical as these can easily lead to social and cultural harm, as many migrants can experience the erosion of social cohesion. This can easily lead to cases of all types of discrimination, including xenophobia, which can damage the cultural fabric of numerous communities. Deportations are sometimes politically necessary, but to do it on a massive wide scale does more harm than good.

Curtice (Yes)

While logistically challenging, mass deportation is ethical in that it undoes the mass self-importation of those who cross the border illegally. There is nothing unethical about a country controlling immigration and controlling its borders, something that has become an entirely overwhelming crisis under Democratic leadership in recent years. 

All countries have a duty and responsibility to control immigration through national sovereignty and enforcing the rule of law. To do otherwise is negligence. Illegal immigration and a “look the other way” attitude undermine the rule of law. Mass deportation may be an unpleasant yet necessary measure to uphold that national sovereignty.

While we don't know specifically who or how many, it is reasonable to assume that many who have come to America illegally have criminal backgrounds. And while it also may seem like an extreme or outsized response, mass deportation is, unfortunately, what is necessary to undo much of the unchecked illegal immigration that has occurred over the past few years.

Many cities are now straining to pay for costs associated with accommodating illegal immigrants, pushing budgets, resources, and citizens to the breaking point. Mass deportation can alleviate much of that strain and put citizens’ welfare first.

There is also a humanitarian cost to illegal immigration, such as family separation, unaccompanied children at the border, and being placed in situations that may not be safe for them, like child labor or certainly human trafficking. The threat of deportation, mass or otherwise, would help reduce the incentive for coming to America illegally to begin with. Of course, mass deportation plans must be done as humanely as possible. While these are human beings, they violated our national sovereignty when they bypassed legal ports of entry, and consequences exist for anyone who breaks the law.