Migrants’ Rights Protection and Migrants as Citizens in Waiting

Abstract

Immigration represents an important challenge to the internal laws of the States. The need for law enforcement, integration of foreigners and the definition of their rights and obligations, and the relationship between immigration and citizenship rules are some of the aspects that concern lawmakers and judicial actors all over the world.

In this context, it is particularly important to define the rights of so-called “Migrant workers.” In fact, the increased mobility resulting from the simplification of travel, globalization, and a greater awareness of national disparities and of migration opportunities has led to major movements of people seeking work in countries other than that of their origin.

It is therefore very important to assess the international legal rights and protection of migrants and migrant workers and their families which have been developed in order to prevent these persons from being exposed to exploitation and all sorts of illegal activities. Recent examples show that migrants are particularly vulnerable to the actions of clandestine immigration networks, of which they are, unfortunately, the main victims.