One way I think about the diminution of rights experienced by migrants is this:

They arrive at our border a human, equal in every measure to you or I. They seek to cross that border, but to do so they must leave some rights behind them. To cross this line, you must be lesser.

If you had access to education in your country of origin, you may lose that here. If you had social welfare support there, not here. If your children could become citizens of the State easily there, not here. If you became ill there were supported, you may not get that here.

If you could work freely there, maybe not here. You crossed this line and came here, so we take rights from you. For what? The reasoning isnt clear. We dont trust you? Maybe. We favour our own? Maybe. Its politically sensitive and we fear voters? Maybe.

The fact of the matter is that endowing migrants with the same rights as anyone within our borders doesn't just benefit them, it benefits everyone. States impose a loss of rights on migrants, and for reasons that dont hold up to scrutiny. Yes you are human, sure, but not equal.

Apart from the immediate impact on that person, which is considerable, is that sustainable? Will it be the same in 50 years? In 100 years? Or do we move closer and closer to parity of both equality and opportunity. I know which I prefer.