On the immi­gration debate — facts and myths

This is the first part of the series “Essays on immigration”. The series has since been followed by pieces on the scale of immigration , family-based immigration , labour-based immigration , those who came to study , those granted asylum , asylum seekers and myths about immigration .

The immigration debate in Finland is difficult because terms are constantly conflated — a productive discussion requires precise concepts.

Why is the immigration debate so hard to have?

Public debate on immigration is rife with imprecise terms and assumptions, which makes the discussion extremely difficult to have. If asylum seekers, refugees, labour migration and other forms of immigration are all mixed up together, you can be sure the debate will not be productive. This is partly why the topic has mainly remained the preserve of those who are critical of immigration. Yet it is such an important part of our society that proper debate must take place — using the right terms.

What problems does immigration involve?

It is true that immigration involves problems. Integrating into a country that speaks one of the world’s most difficult languages is not easy. Nor do we make it easy through racism, inadequate services and discrimination in job-seeking. In day-to-day life, integration is determined by ordinary interactions, and in that we Finns hold a key role. We cannot demand that immigrants integrate if we ourselves do not make it possible.

Is reducing immigration even a realistic option?

Stopping or significantly reducing immigration is not even a realistic alternative. Immigration is an inseparable part of globalisation, in which companies seek abroad the labour they cannot find at home. The majority of immigrants who come to Finland do so either to join a working spouse or to come to work themselves. In addition, any European Union citizen has the right to move here. It should therefore be obvious even by common sense that since we cannot close our borders, it is worth trying to benefit from immigration as much as possible.

In the end, the matter is also this: without immigration, we can bid farewell to the welfare state that previous generations built. Simply put, Finnish birth rates are not sufficient to ensure there will be enough workers here in the future. At the very least, we would run out of people to staff elder care, to say nothing of other productive work. Most of Kirkkonummi’s growth also comes from immigration.

Published in Kirkkonummen Sanomat on 27 November 2024.