One word: risk Countries are not reluctant to allow immigration, they are reluctant to allow immigration of potentially harmful people (as long as we're below

One word: risk Countries are not reluctant to allow immigration, they are reluctant to allow immigration of potentially harmful people (as long as we're below immigration capacity) Proxies for "harmfulness" are: - different culture estimated via parent citizenship, religion, and language - less wealth, estimated by income (having a job already), income potential (education) and/or money in the bank account In general, power-hungry politicians should aim for obtaining higher populations because it means more power.