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Table 1 The two competing logics of internal migration control

From: Ambiguous goals, uneven implementation – how immigration offices shape internal immigration control in Germany

 

Regulatory control logic

Economic welfare logic

Assumption / point of departure

Imperative to enforce the rule of law consistently

Acknowledge that barriers to deportation persist

Conception of fairness

Fairness as rule of law (right to remain versus no right to remain)

Meritocracy: training / working establishes deservingness; Kantian: presence grants rights

Primary objective

Priority of residence termination for those without a legal right to remain

Priority of integration to minimize burden on social security systems

Secondary objective(s)

Avoid integration to not counteract priority of residence termination

Meet employer demands (skills shortages), avoid large-scale social exclusion (security aspect)

Signalling effect(s) to the public

Acting ‘tough’ on migration, protecting ‘native’ jobs

Migrants contribute to social security systems

Signalling effect to (potential) migrants

No incentive: access to the labour market is difficult

Cooperation rewarded with rights to integrate / remain

  1. Source: own compilation