There is general agreement today that traditional approaches to immigration admissions in the major receiving countries of the West have serious shortcomings either in concept or implementation, or at times in both. These essays, all written by leading immigration experts, consider the philosophical and moral constraints on immigration law and policy, the basic elements of a comprehensive migration policy, and specific policy areas, including family reunification and asylum. Taken together, these perspectives represent a fresh, comparative look at some of the most urgent issues in this pivotal area of law and policy.

David A. Martin is Henry L.& Grace Doherty Professor of Law at the University of Virginia. From 1978 to 1980 he served in the Human Rights Bureau of the U.S. Department of State, and in August 1995 he took leave from the university to become general counsel of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Work on his chapter in this volume was virtually complete before he assumed that office, and he was not involved in the final shaping of the projects policy recommendations or the conclusions printed in this volume. In any case, the opinions expressed therein do not necessarily represent the views of the INS, the Department of Justice, or the U.S. government.

IntroductionKay Hailbronner and Hiroshi Motomura

PART I: THE ETHICS OF IMMIGRATION

Chapter 1. The Philosophy and the policy Maker: Two Perspectives on the Ethics of Immigration with Special Attention to the Problems of Restricting AsylumJoseph Carens

PART II: IMMIGRATION ADMISSIONS

Chapter 2. Comprehensive Migration Policy: the Main Elements and OptionsJörg Monar

Chapter 3. The Family and Immigration: a Road Map for the Ruritanian LawmakerHiroshi Motomura

Chapter 4. Readmission AgreementsOlaf Reermann

Chapter 5. Migration Return policies and Countries of OriginRosemarie Rogers

Chapter 6. Is the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees Obsolete?Joan Fitzpatrick

Chapter 7. Refugee DefinitionRainer Hofmann

Conclusion: Immigration Admissions and Immigration ControlsKay Hailbronner,David A. Martin andHiroshi Motomura

Notes on Contributors Bibliography Index