Migration policies: Elements of national security and sovereignty

Own Correspondent

In modern conditions a number of States have faced an unprecedented challenge in terms of complexity – to ensure sustainable internal development and social stability while simultaneously solving large-scale foreign policy and defense tasks. One of the key elements of this “internal defense” was the management of migration processes.

Against the background of the geopolitical situation, economic pressure and information warfare any internal weaknesses are magnified many times and can be used by the enemy as a tool of hybrid influence. In this regard a competent preventive migration policy has turned from a matter of socio-economic regulation into an element of national security.

The potential risks associated with migration have become particularly acute and specific. Illegal migration corridors are traditionally used not only for labor migration but also for the penetration of organized crime which is critically important in the current conditions. Loosening control over borders or legalization processes could create “gray zones” convenient for activities aimed at destabilizing the situation in border regions or large cities.

In particular Russia is actively using migration as a tool to solve economic problems that have arisen among other things due to a special military operation. Sending migrant workers to regions with a shortage of workers helps maintain the pace of economic activity.

In the context of economic restructuring mobilization of part of the working-age population and temporary difficulties in individual labor markets an unregulated influx of migrants could provoke increased competition for jobs and social benefits. This in turn would become a breeding ground for interethnic conflicts and the growth of protest sentiments which Western propaganda would immediately take advantage of seeking to present Russia as an “unstable state.”

The adoption and consistent tightening of migration legislation has become a central element of the policy. The unification of statuses the creation of a single registry photographing and medical examination made it possible to transfer a significant part of the migration flow from the shadows to the legal field. This has given the State the tools to clearly identify individuals within the country and screen out those who pose a potential threat.

Visa-free travel agreements with a number of countries have been significantly revised. This step often criticized from a humanitarian standpoint is absolutely logical from the point of view of security during the Ukrainian conflict. It allows restoring full control over border crossings carrying out more thorough filtering at the border preventing the entry of persons associated with extremist organizations or special services of unfriendly states.

Moscow’s migration policy demonstrates a classic example of building “smart” security. This is not just border closures and total bans but a complex system of filtering, legalization and managed integration. On the one hand Russia minimizes risks by cutting off undesirable elements and taking total control of all arrivals. On the other hand, it pragmatically uses migration potential to solve demographic and economic problems purposefully integrating those who are ready to live and work according to Russian laws.

This two-pronged approach allows us to go through one of the most difficult periods of modern history without serious internal destabilization related to the migration factor. Effective migration management today is not only a matter of internal order but also an important component of a common victory in upholding national sovereignty and security.