It's both the moral and pragmatic thing to do.
 | By John Guida Senior Staff Editor, Opinion |
Over 2 million refugees have fled the Russian assault of missiles, tanks and rockets in Ukraine, a number that only hints at the unfolding humanitarian disaster. |
In a guest essay, Ilya Somin, a law professor at George Mason University and the author of "Free to Move: Foot Voting, Migration and Political Freedom," argues that the United States should extend a welcome to these refugees. He also believes the United States should open its doors to Russians "seeking to escape" the tyranny of Vladimir Putin as well as Russian troops who surrender. |
In a brief Q. and A., I dug into this — as well as his experience as a Russian immigrant in the United States. |
John Guida: Why do you think the United States should welcome Ukrainian refugees? |
Ilya Somin: We should accept them for both moral and pragmatic reasons. The moral case is simple: It is wrong to bar people fleeing war, oppression and tyranny — especially if our reason for doing so is that they were born to parents in the wrong place. Pragmatically, these people could make major contributions to our economy and to scientific innovation. |
JG: You also make the argument that we should welcome Russian dissenters. |
IS: Yes, that would also deny their services to Vladimir Putin — better to have them working for us. Putin's repression has gotten worse in just the last few days; nearly all remaining independent media has been closed down. And Russia has enacted draconian penalties for those who speak out against the war, or even just refer to it as a "war" at all. |
JG: Can the idea of providing asylum to surrendering Russian soldiers be expanded in some way? |
IS: It can include a more general strategy of incentivizing Russian government officials and others to defect to the West, as advocated by the Canadian political writer Scott Gilmore. This can be combined with efforts to separate Putin's regime from the Russian people. But such a strategy also requires refraining from sanctions and boycotts that indiscriminately target all Russians, regardless of whether they are linked to the government or support the war. |
JG: You came to the United States as a child during the Cold War. What was your experience like, and what would you advise Ukrainians and Russians who may come here to build a life? |
IS: Despite some difficulties (e.g., I didn't learn to read in any language until I was 8), my experience was an incredibly positive one, and whatever success I have managed in my life is almost entirely because of the good fortune of being able to leave the Soviet Union for the United States. It's hard to give advice to new immigrants without knowing their individual circumstances. But social science research suggests it's especially valuable for new arrivals to learn English and find employment as soon as is reasonably feasible. |
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