Increasingly, across Western states, potential migrants are refused admission because they present a “security” risk. This paper considers whether a coherent case can be made in favor of these exclusions. First, I examine the notion of national security, and in particular how understandings of what security entails have shaped a range of immigration policies in western democratic states in the last 10 years. Second, I examine the language used historically to justify race-based policies to illustrate that indeed “security” was among the justificatory reasons offered in their favor. Third, I examine who is excluded as a result of recent immigration policy changes: current data suggest that the number of Middle Eastern migrants gaining admissions in Western democratic states is declining. I argue that the adoption, and the effects, of security-motivated admission policies amount to discrimination based on race.
