James G. Dwyer

International Migration of Children for a Better Life

In a world where a child's fate is often determined by the arbitrary circumstances of their birth, International Migration of Children for a Better Life challenges the legal status quo. The book advances a dramatically different vision of children's relationship to nations and to the international legal order, one that provides theoretical grounding for a right of children to escape life-threatening circumstances, rather than waiting for change in their home environment. By offering a normative critique of existing international law, the book suggests novel arguments for enabling children to migrate more freely and escape adverse environments. It argues that the conventional policy response to tragic circumstances—war, famine, natural disaster, which prioritizes transformation of local conditions so people can remain in place or quickly return, is less appropriate for children than for adults. Children's needs are more urgent. The book arrives at several recommendations, backed by a theory of children's rights: eliminate citizenship for children altogether, disallow states from inhibiting children's departure, prioritize children over adults in immigration policy, and evacuate children en masse from nations that cannot protect them. Presenting a child-centered perspective on perennial issues in immigration law and political theory, International Migration of Children for a Better Life is a must read for legal academics, political philosophers, practitioners, and policy experts alike.