ISLAMABAD: Growing issues with illegal migration worldwide have sparked international security concerns, economic strain, and social instability, reinforcing Pakistan’s long-standing position. Pakistan has consistently argued that undocumented migrants place a heavy burden on state resources and pose serious threats to law and order.
The presence of illegal Afghan migrants in Pakistan has been a significant internal security challenge. At the same time, several European countries, including the United Kingdom, are facing escalating refugee crises.
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According to the British newspaper The Guardian, the immigration system in the UK is rapidly deteriorating and causing divisions within society. The report suggests that migrants should return to their home countries once conditions improve there, even if they own property in the UK. It also states that refugees will be granted temporary status rather than permanent residency, requiring them to renew applications every two to two-and-a-half years. Those arriving illegally in the UK could wait at least 20 years before qualifying for permanent residence.
The report further highlights that illegal migrants are putting significant pressure on British communities, straining public services, and increasing social tension.
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The UK Home Secretary acknowledged that illegal migration is dividing the country and creating rifts within communities. He stated that “illegal migrants break the law, exploit the system, and avoid punishment.” He added that state-provided housing and financial support will be made optional to ensure aid reaches only those genuinely in need, and facilities for illegal arrivals will be curtailed.
The Home Secretary described the measures as the government’s top priority, calling them “the most extensive and comprehensive reforms to tackle illegal migration in the modern era.”
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Meanwhile, in Pakistan, security agencies’ reports indicate that several Afghan nationals have been involved in terrorism, smuggling, and other criminal activities. In light of national security concerns, the repatriation of Afghan citizens is accelerating, and the government has affirmed that no illegal residency will be permitted in the future.
Experts note that the global trend toward stricter immigration policies validates Pakistan’s long-standing position, demonstrating that the world is now facing the same challenges Pakistan had previously highlighted.
Why Immigration Is Becoming Increasingly Difficult Worldwide?
Australia is witnessing massive protests, with around 350,000 people taking to the streets across six cities demanding stricter limits on the arrival of foreign nationals. Meanwhile, in the UK, actions against immigrants have become almost routine, with frequent raids on homes and high-profile figures like Elon Musk publicly commenting on legal and illegal immigration. In the past year, the United States has deported roughly 350,000 people, and Canada has seen similar measures. Across Europe and the West, numerous videos have emerged showing protests against migrants.
To understand this, it’s important to look at the historical context. In the past, people moved across borders with relative freedom. However, passports were introduced after World War I, replacing the earlier simple permits used in countries like France and Britain. Following World War II, visas became mandatory alongside passports. The post-war period also saw significant population losses in Europe, creating a labor shortage. From 1945 onward, Western countries needed workers to rebuild and grow their economies, but there was a challenge: would their own citizens be willing to do these jobs?
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In the 1940s, scholars like Roll Pribesh proposed the “Theory of Dependence,” which suggested that as nations develop, certain societal challenges arise. Among these are increased reluctance among citizens to work hard, serve in the military, or pursue education, leading to shortages in intellectual capital, workforce, and national defense. To counter these gaps, Western countries invited skilled migrants from poorer nations. Between 1950 and 1970, around one million Pakistanis, Indians, and Bangladeshis moved to the UK, working in factories, housing, and other sectors, significantly boosting the British economy. By the 1980s, these contributions were reflected in a GDP growth of 30 percent, with South Asians still representing 25 percent of the NHS workforce and running thousands of restaurants today. In total, immigrants now contribute trillions of dollars to Western economies.
Yet, despite this historical reliance on migrant labor, protests against immigration are intensifying. The reason is partly global economic shifts, particularly the trend of deglobalization. While countries like China and Russia continue to push for globalized trade, Western nations are increasingly focusing inward. Over the past 30 years, globalization led to outsourcing jobs, call centers went to India, textiles to Pakistan and Bangladesh, iPhones to China, creating massive global interdependence. Now, Western countries want to reclaim these jobs domestically.
For example, the U.S. has implemented tariffs and pressured companies to bring factories back home, aiming to reduce unemployment among its citizens. Western countries are also facing serious domestic crises: housing shortages, unaffordable rents, overburdened public services, and job displacement due to artificial intelligence. The NHS in the UK is struggling, and public services in Canada are increasingly strained. This combination of domestic pressure and technological disruption has led to stricter immigration policies.
As a result, countries that were once open to asylum seekers, like the UK, are now closing doors, and visa policies across the West are tightening. Over the next five to six years, immigration is expected to become significantly more restrictive, making it much harder for people to move internationally.
