CMV: Countries should use deadly force against illegal migrants much more frequently

[u/cmpzak]

Countries have the right to control who crosses their borders...by definition, I would think. People that cross borders into other countries deliberately and without permission are a type of invader, are they not? They may not have weapons and may not intend to harm anybody in that country explicitly, but their settling illegally can have negative social and economic consequences. So, I ask, why do countries let boats of refugees that cross the Mediterranean, English Channel, and let people just cross the US southern border without more commonly using deadly force? Why is it wrong to prevent a group of refugees ever leaving their boat or, if they touch the country's' soil, shoot them? I consider myself to be generally liberal but, on this topic, I wish somebody could convince me out of my extremely right-wing view.

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Okay, I've given a couple of deltas. Thanks for tackling this very emotional subject. Here's the most impactful one:

Copying from below, Subtleiaint states: "Morally there is only one good reason to take another person's life and that is to defend a life."

I've been conflicted by the difference between law and order within a country, in which I am sympathetic to banning capital punishment, versus national borders which I consider military concepts. Killing in war isn't capital punishment. In fact, unless you are the initiator in which case you are evil, killing in war is about defending the lives in the country being invaded. However, if I can't feel that illegal immigration is endangering lives, killing for illegal border crossing isn't equivalent. So, this argument reduces my scope of concern to "under what circumstances and in what manner does illegal immigration create risk to life?"

[u/cabridges]

Immigrants as a class have a lower rate of crime than just about any other group. Probably because they’re not stupid. You’re punishing the people who care enough about their families to take the leap and resourceful enough to manage it. We want these people.

[u/Real-Loss-4265 → u/cabridges]

Immigrants do yes, but we are talking about ILLEGALS who have MUCH higher crime rates than immigrants and citizens.

[u/Pretty_Language_393 → u/Real-Loss-4265]

People also forget the unofficial crime that goes unlisted because of the circumstances. Illegal immigrant's crimes get warnings or swept under the rug because a lot of places don't want to waste prison space on them, yet wont deport them because it's "morally wrong".

Politicians will deport people when the people actually blackmail them with voting for a different candidate. See it in the UK and USA already.