Biden’s broadside on immigration

United States President Joe Biden during a fundraiser in his 2024 presidential campaign said that the US was, and India, Japan, China and Russia are not, thriving economically because of immigrants. He described the four countries as xenophobic, and made the point that their economies were faltering because they do not welcome immigrants like America.

The Japanese embassy in Washington described Biden’s remarks as “unfortunate” and not accurate, while India’s Foreign Minister S.Jaishankar said that India welcomes immigrants. He explained that India is open to immigrants who belong to the country and they have the first right. He was explaining the Indian Government’s new citizenship law which enables religious minorities in India’s immediate neighbourhood like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

It looks like the American president made his comment in the domestic context of the debate raging about immigrants in the US. The conservatives, especially the Republicans, and especially the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for the November election, put every economic woe of the Americans at the door of the immigrants. Biden and Democrats adopt an immigrant-friendly stance. It was not surprising then that Biden was driving home the point that the US benefits from the immigrants, which is a fact of American history. But is Biden right in attributing the problems of the economy in Japan, India (its closest allies), in China and Russia (its ideological and military rivals) due to the fact they do not welcome immigrants as America does?

The logic of immigration is quite simple. America needs immigrants because it needs people to keep its economy chugging. And it is the same need that drives Europe to open its doors to immigrants. But there is a change in the mood and in circumstances in Europe. As its economy shrinks, Europe is unable to absorb immigrants the way it did immediately after the Second World War in 1945. After more than 75 years of immigration, European governments, including the United Kingdom, are feeling the pressure of creating jobs for all – their own citizens and the immigrants. Therefore, so many anti-immigration parties and leaders are winning elections on the immigration issue.

The case of Japan and India with regard to immigrants is different. Japan has been a culturally closed society for centuries, and it is difficult for the Japanese and the immigrants to adjust to each other. Japan needs immigrants because of the decline in population, but it has to be quite careful in preparing its immigration policy, keeping in mind the cultural and social sensitivities.

The case of India on the issue of immigrants is different from that of the US and Japan. India is today the most populous country. It has to provide jobs and amenities for its own population, which is a challenge in itself. It does not need immigrants to run its economy the way the US does. In spite of the fact that India does not need immigrants, there is a flow of immigrants into India from Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, and from Tibet in China, seeking political asylum and economic opportunity.

China too does not need immigrants because it has a sufficient workforce of its own. It can be argued that Russia, a huge country geographically, might be in need of immigrants. Russia again has to be careful in deciding on its immigration policy because it could easily attract inflow of migrants from many European countries, and Russian authorities might feel that they may not be able to manage the immigrants, a problem that Europe faces as well.

So, Biden’s broadside about immigration is pure electioneering stuff and nothing more. Biden is indulging in a typical Americanism: what works for America should work for the world as well. It does not.