ECONOMIC FOCUS OR BORDER CONTROL? HOW RIGHT-WING GOVERNMENTS HANDLE SKILLED AND UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS

By Rawaid Hussain Siddiqui
Co-Founder of AGS Welt Group of Companies

https://agsweltgermany.de/
PhD Scholar, Master of Laws (LLM) in Immigration Law, and Master in Diplomacy and International Relations

As a dedicated scholar and co-founder of a global business group AGS WELT GROUP, I have spent years exploring the intersection of immigration law, diplomacy, and socio-economic policies. My academic journey, culminating in advanced degrees in Immigration Law and International Relations, combined with my professional experience in AGS WELT Group, has provided me with unique insights into the evolving landscape of immigration policies across the world. My latest research, recently published in the American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research, sheds light on how right-wing governments approach skilled and undocumented migration, highlighting the complexities and implications of these policies for both economies and individuals.

When we think about immigration, there is often a divide between those coming to a country with high-level skills and those arriving without proper documentation. Right-wing governments—those typically more conservative or nationalist—often treat these two groups very differently. Let's take a closer look at how this plays out, particularly in the United States under Donald Trump and in Germany, where the rise of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has influenced immigration policies.

TWO TYPES OF IMMIGRATION POLICIES

Right-wing governments tend to have two separate policies when it comes to immigration. On one side, they want skilled workers, such as scientists, researchers, engineers or doctors, to come in and fill gaps in the workforce. These migrants are seen as valuable contributors to the economy. On the other side, these governments often have strict rules and crackdowns on undocumented migrants, or those who come without legal permission, fearing that they might strain public resources or security.

For example, during Donald Trump's presidency, the U.S. tightened rules for skilled workers under the H-1B visa program (a visa for high-skilled professionals). From 2017 to 2019, the denial rates for these visas increased by 15%, making it harder for many to get in. However, this was not due to an overall policy shift but rather a deliberate effort to approve only the most suitable candidates, ensuring that the best talent was selected. However, Trump's government also cracked down heavily on undocumented immigrants, with deportations increasing by 20% during his time in office. In this category, the measures were significantly stricter and more severe.

Germany is another case. After welcoming nearly a million refugees in 2015, things started to change. The AfD party, which is against high levels of immigration, gained support, pushing Germany to tighten its rules. Deportations went up by 16% between 2017 and 2020. However, Germany still actively tries to bring in skilled workers, with programs like the Blue Card and the newer Chancenkarte (Opportunity Card), designed to attract talent from around the world.

How Migrants Feel About These Policies: Survey Results

To better understand how these policies affect migrants, I conducted a survey of 80 migrants in the U.S. and Germany—half were skilled workers, and half were undocumented or refugees. The goal was to learn about their experiences with immigration policies.

In Germany:

• Skilled migrants generally felt more positive about the country's policies, giving them a score of 4.2 out of 5.
• Refugees, however, had a much harder time, rating the policies at just 2.5 out of 5.

In the U.S.:

• Skilled workers gave immigration policies an even higher score—4.5 out of 5.
• Refugees and undocumented migrants rated their experience at 3.0 out of 5, indicating more challenges but not as negative as in Germany.

When it comes to overall satisfaction with government support for their immigration process:

In Germany:

• Skilled migrants were fairly satisfied, scoring support at 4.0 out of 5.
• Refugees gave it a much lower score of 2.8, showing a big gap in the support they felt they received.

In the U.S.:

• Skilled workers rated their satisfaction at 4.3 out of 5, feeling well-supported.
• Refugees and undocumented migrants gave it a 3.2, reflecting more difficulties but still better than the situation in Germany.

What Does This Mean?

From this survey, it's clear that right-wing governments often treat skilled and undocumented migrants very differently. While skilled workers are often welcomed and even encouraged to come and contribute to the economy, refugees and undocumented migrants face stricter policies, more deportations, and less support.

In the U.S., for example, skilled workers have had to deal with more hurdles under programs like the H-1B visa, but they still feel relatively positive about the system. However, undocumented migrants and refugees, especially those from countries facing crises, have struggled with harsher policies.

Germany is slightly different. Though there has been a tightening of refugee policies due to the influence of the AfD party representing the right wing, the country is still very focused on bringing in skilled workers. Programs like the Blue Card and Chancenkarte reflect Germany's desire to attract talented professionals from around the world.

The Takeaway

The trend is clear: right-wing governments are keen to bring in skilled workers but are increasingly tough on undocumented migrants. This is a complex balance between economic needs and national security concerns. For skilled workers, these policies can offer opportunities, but for refugees and those without proper documentation, the path to stability is often much more difficult.

These immigration policies will continue to evolve, especially as political dynamics shift in both the U.S. and Europe. Understanding these patterns is key for anyone interested in global migration trends, as it shows how different groups of migrants are valued—and treated—by governments. Through our work as immigration experts, we have encountered this issue firsthand and are now sharing these insights to raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities that come with skilled and undocumented migration. As co-founder of AGS Welt Group, we are actively contributing to the betterment of immigrants and will continue sharing valuable insights like this to support their journey.

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