Vibrant economies need immigrants. The highly skilled have immigrated for centuries, as they continue to do, spreading skills and innovation. The less skilled have contributed workers to harvest crops, begin new businesses, and save money to prepare their children for better lives.

Immigrants can shore up falling birth rates in developed nations. Countries stagnate if the number of births falls below replacement rates, the recent norm in developed societies. A continuing flow of immigrants lessens fallout from the drop in birth rates.

At the same time, immigration can be uneven and inundate some societies, as in various African and Middle Eastern countries and to a lesser extent in developed nations on the fringes. Wars have upset whole societies. Peacekeeping not only prevents bloodshed, but decreases huge migrations of people, desperately fleeing for their lives.

Differences from the past also multiply today’s movements of people. The world’s growing population means more of us are affected by conflicts. In addition, climate change causes drought and less dependable weather patterns. Finally, social media spreads news of better places to live.

Successful immigration results from managing both the push and the pull factors. Most immigrants are not criminals or freeloaders any more than were the immigrating ancestors of many of us.

Developed nations have obligations to lessen the push factors that send boatloads and truckloads searching for a better life. Some of the factors leading desperate people to flee are the result of decisions made by those nations.

For centuries, developing nations were seen merely as sources of raw materials or military outposts with little regard for the country’s citizens. Since the 1800’s, the United States has often supported dictators guilty of gross human rights violations in Central America, for example.

For the sake of righting wrongs as well as for reasons of self-interest, developed nations would be wise to work on both the push and the pull factors fueling immigration.