Fausto Rojas

Title:  Opportunity Migrants and Border Restrictions: A Conversation on Personal Autonomy and Self-Determination 

Immigration is one of the many hot button topics in political and social discourse. This subject is often framed in the context of refugees or similar cases in which individuals are in or near life-and-death situations. Though the emphasis placed on these cases is incredibly important and well deserved, this thesis will focus on a less-talked-about group: opportunity migrants. For this thesis, opportunity migrants can be understood as individuals with adequate security and life options where they currently reside. This thesis considers how opportunity migrants factor into personal autonomy and self-determination conversations. I argue that these migrants should be afforded protected entrance into countries, despite their apparent lack of need. This argument is limited by a self-imposed restriction, namely that countries have a right to self-determination. I develop this constrained argument by first considering the consequences of border restrictions and violations of sovereignty regarding personal autonomy while reflecting on the nature of self-determination and its purpose. Later, I develop a conditional argument relating to nations' historical and ongoing interdependence. In other words, I claim that in cases where a foreign act of intervention directly limits migrants’ opportunities, that group is now entitled to protected entrance into the intervening country. I conclude by reflecting on what forms of resistance opportunity migrants would be justified in taking and specifically focus on why they may be justified in violating border restrictions. 

First Thesis Advisor:  Professor Alexander Gourevitch

Associate Professor of Political Science

Second Thesis Advisor:  Professor Bernard Reginster

Romeo Elton Professor of Natural Theology, Chair of Philosophy