Undocumented immigrants and their right to have rights: A discourse ethics approach [Les sans-papiers et leur droit d'avoir des droits. Une approche par l'éthique de la discussion]

Raisons Politiques
Volume 26, Issue 2, 2007, Pages 125-147

Undocumented immigrants and their right to have rights: A discourse ethics approach [Les sans-papiers et leur droit d'avoir des droits. Une approche par l'éthique de la discussion] (Article)

Breyeret I.* , Dumitru S.

^a DiplôMéE en Sciences Politiques, Université Libre de Berlin, Institut Otto-Suhr, Germany
^b Chaire Hoover D'éthique économique et Sociale, UCL, Belgique, Belgium

Abstract

The aim of this article is to show that refusing to legalize the status of undocumented immigrants who have been long-term residents is a serious violation of human rights. The "right to have rights" - a term coined by Hannah Arendt and developed by Sheila Benhabib - should be construed first and foremost as the right to a legal existence. We take issue with consequentialists who warn that legalizing the status of undocumented aliens will encourage further undesirable immigration, for withholding legal status in order to deter illegal newcomers is neither efficacious nor just. We conclude that "selective" as opposed to "endured" immigration policies are ethically untenable. © 2007 Presses de Sciences Po.

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Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-66749138276&doi=10.3917%2frai.026.0125&partnerID=40&md5=cdae2b2492d88970cc4d182206781674

DOI: 10.3917/rai.026.0125

ISSN: 12911941

Original Language: French