I want to know if there are arguments for limiting the rights of immigrants (legal or not) that aren’t rooted in excessive self-interest (“they took our jobs!”) Or perhaps xenophobia.
I’m unsure whether you want arguments for limits on (1) immigration in itself, or (2) the rights of immigrants once settled in a new country, but I’ll focus on arguments against (1), since they can be turned into arguments against (2) by observing that policies in favour of (2) are likely to encourage (1). I don’t know how you draw the line in terms of excessive self-interest or xenophobia so I’ve set those worries aside in listing these arguments; take ‘em or leave ’em.
Potential immigrants might be worse than current residents, however you choose to define “worse”. (Similar to Eugine_Nier’s point.)
The sheer rate at which people would immigrate to a given country in the absence of limits might overwhelm that country’s resources.
The loss of migrants from their home countries might harm those countries.
Immigrants themselves might actually be worse off in a different country.
Immigrants, regardless of their personal characteristics, might generate a negative reaction from the existing residents, institutions, and/or economy of their destination country.
Other countries might suffer negative externalities from immigration even if immigrants, their countries of origin, and their destination country all enjoy a net benefit.
Allowing certain immigrants to enter a country could provoke interference or punishment from their home country.
Limiting (or outright banning) immigrants from a particular country could be a useful signal or sanction against that country.
I’m unsure whether you want arguments for limits on (1) immigration in itself, or (2) the rights of immigrants once settled in a new country, but I’ll focus on arguments against (1), since they can be turned into arguments against (2) by observing that policies in favour of (2) are likely to encourage (1). I don’t know how you draw the line in terms of excessive self-interest or xenophobia so I’ve set those worries aside in listing these arguments; take ‘em or leave ’em.
Potential immigrants might be worse than current residents, however you choose to define “worse”. (Similar to Eugine_Nier’s point.)
The sheer rate at which people would immigrate to a given country in the absence of limits might overwhelm that country’s resources.
The loss of migrants from their home countries might harm those countries.
Immigrants themselves might actually be worse off in a different country.
Immigrants, regardless of their personal characteristics, might generate a negative reaction from the existing residents, institutions, and/or economy of their destination country.
Other countries might suffer negative externalities from immigration even if immigrants, their countries of origin, and their destination country all enjoy a net benefit.
Allowing certain immigrants to enter a country could provoke interference or punishment from their home country.
Limiting (or outright banning) immigrants from a particular country could be a useful signal or sanction against that country.