ABSTRACT
Gabriel Hernández Cortez is a Mexican citizen from Guanajuato in central Mexico. In Guanajuato, Gabriel worked in construction and earned about four dollars per day. Gabriel’s son, Carlos, became ill and was hospitalized. The cost of Carlos’ medical care was ruinous for his family’s finances. His wife and two children had to move in with her parents. Immigration restrictions interfere with valuable freedoms, such as freedom of association and occupational choice. So, there is a presumption against immigration restrictions. Other moral considerations can in principle defeat this presumption. Reflection on Neighborhood suggests that freedom of movement is intimately connected with core freedoms. To exercise occupational freedom or religious liberty, people must have the freedom to move around. Immigration restrictions coercively stop many millions of people from moving to other countries, and they in effect forbid citizens of states that restrict immigration from associating with foreigners.
