There are four factors of globalization: the exchange of information and know-how, the flow of capital, the buying and selling of merchandise, and the cross-border traffic of workers. The progress of each of these factors is different, with the most important being the exchange of information and know-how, along with the flow of capital, and to a lesser extent the sale of merchandise and the migration of workers. There have been advances in the first two factors, but stagnation in the last two. Today the exchange of information and know-how between people of different nationalities as well as the flow of capital between sovereign countries is much freer than the ability to trade between people of different nationalities and the ability of workers to cross borders to fill the demand for employment.

In the final factor, such as the case of migrant workers between Mexico and the United States, there remains much to be done. The barriers to cross-border movement of workers has actually increased, yet the number of illegal immigrants has not stopped. Why? Because while there are Mexicans with the possibility to make a much better living in the United States, and while there are American employers willing to pay them, illegal immigration, one way or another, will continue, both for the benefit of the employee and the employer. It is upon this mutually beneficial case of supply and demand where the freedom of movement of peaceful people will find its path.

Laws against illegal immigration, with all the concomitant technology and manpower, has proven over time to be an exercise in futility, because human endeavor will always seek and find ways to overcome government-imposed obstacles to self-improvement. Who are governments to prohibit free people from traveling among different nations? Or more concretely, who has the right to prohibit, in a free market, people of different nationalities mutually deciding to work together for the benefit of both? Who really has the right to build borders, to require passports and visas, and to put limits and conditions on the free movement of peaceful people between borders?

Anti-immigration measures have proved to be inefficient because they violate one of the most basic freedoms, the freedom of movement. And as always, humans will find a way, one way or another, to exercise this freedom. In this fact lies the history of humanity in general, and more particularly history of economic progress.

All of this discussion comes about as a result of the approval of the Law of Border Protection, Anti-terrorism and Control of Illegal Immigration by the U.S. House of Representatives, which increases the penalties on repeat violators that have entered the country illegally and on those employers that hire them. As if that were not enough, the law also proposes the construction of a wall thousands of miles long on the borders of California, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. What will be the result? There will be more violations of individual liberty, not only of the Mexicans that go in search of a better life in the United States, but also of the Americans that are willing to hire them.

Although passed by the House of Representatives, the legislation is unlikely to be approved by the Senate. However, the intent of the law shows just how much, in the matter of globalization, remains to be done.

* Arturo Damm Arnal is a Mexican Economist and Philosopher devoted to journalism and college teaching.