Justice, Migration, and Mercy

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Political controversy about migration is increasingly urgent, raising critical questions in policy-making, public discourse, and philosophical accounts of migration. Do liberal states have the right to exclude unwanted outsiders, or should all borders be open? How should we theorize the morality of refugee and asylum policies? If states can exclude, what ethical principles govern who gets in? This work offers insights into the political morality of migration, presenting a novel account of the right to exclude, grounded in a fundamental right to avoid unwanted political relationships. It goes beyond merely justifying exclusion by examining the best justifications for it and determining its limits. This perspective challenges current migration realities that favor open borders for a select few while closing them to the majority, particularly marginalized groups. It addresses specific justice issues in migration, such as the permissibility of travel bans and carrier sanctions. The author advocates for a vision that transcends questions of rights and liberal justice, urging a declaration of the kind of community we aspire to be. Central to this analysis is the moral notion of mercy, leading to the conclusion that mercy and justice should guide migration policy and public debate.