The Immigration Solution No One Is Talking About

Why We Need a New Perspective on This Hyper-Politicized Issue

Migrants wait to be transferred from Lampedusa. Photo by Cecilia Fabiano/La Presse via AP

Have you seen the heartbreaking images coming out of Lampedusa, Italy? 

Mid-September, the population of the tiny Italian island doubled in 48 hours when more than 7,000 migrants arrived in boats from Africa.

These are the kinds of images that come to mind when I say that I’m a haunted person. 

As an African, from the moment you’re young, you hear stories of your people falling from the cargo bin of a plane, being trapped and sold as slaves for $300 in Libya, or sinking and drowning on a boat to Europe. Or, now, being stuck in an overflowing detention facility designed to accommodate only 400 people. 

Many people in the West see these images and immediately spout their preferred take on immigration. 

The left shouts, "Open the doors!" 

The right bellows, "Tighten the borders!" 

But in this political tug-of-war, both sides miss the mark. They're ignoring the human element of the issue. 

Think about it. It takes an extraordinary situation for someone to pack up and leave everything they know behind. Their families, their homes, their communities. So, why are these people leaving home in the first place? 

The answer is simple. Many of them are in poverty. 

Why are they in poverty? They have no income. 

Where do we get income? Jobs. 

Where do jobs come from? Businesses. 

And where are the businesses in Africa? 

They are not being created because they are being stifled by nonsense laws. 

So, the brightest entrepreneurial minds of the African continent are boarding illegal boats for countries where they actually have a chance at economic flourishing. 

It reminds me of a simple yet profound African proverb: 

“A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.” 

The village here represents the home countries. If these countries fail to provide ample opportunities for its people to thrive, they'll seek these opportunities elsewhere, sometimes going to extreme lengths.

Instead of focusing on walls or open doors, I suggest that we ask a different question: 

What does it take for people to want to stay home?

Secure jobs. Meaningful opportunities. Prosperous businesses. 

We have a chance here—a golden opportunity to stop using immigration as a political crutch and start addressing it at its roots. Instead of treating the symptoms, let's go for the cure: 

Economic freedom.

Let's give people the choice they really deserve: to thrive where they’re born and not feel compelled to leave in search of a better life.

Instead of focusing on walls or open doors, I suggest that we ask a different question: What does it take for people to want to stay home? 
—Magatte Wade

Imagine a world where the primary exports from Africa aren't desperate people in search of a better life, but goods and services borne out of thriving industries… 

Picture communities boasting about their growing economies, rich culture, and happy, prosperous people... 

Envision an Africa that's not seen as a burden, but an equal player on the world stage. 

Now, isn't that a more enthralling narrative than just "open the doors" or "close the borders"? 

So, here's my challenge, especially to those in power: Instead of using immigrants as political leverage, work with me to bring greater economic freedom to their places of origin. 

Let’s build Startup Cities that teem with prosperous, inspired, and energetic people and provide opportunities for African entrepreneurs to thrive. In these cities, no one will wonder where their next paycheck’s coming from. Instead, they’ll wonder how they can create more jobs and deliver more paychecks to others.

Creating the conditions for people to flourish in their home countries is the best way to produce a brighter, more prosperous future for Africa.