Integration in Tension in Immigration Law: Mirror and Catalyst of the Inherent Paradox of the Nation-States

Integration has become a popular word to describe the march towards a fairer treatment of immigrants and their incorporation in host societies. However, by becoming a legal pre-requisite for long-term immigrants before the acquisition of any more favourable status (one to integrate them better), integration reflects the discomfort and the tension in our societies, rather than a solution to the problem of the permanent presence of non-citizens within the boundaries of nation-states. As such, for the time being, the master metaphor of integration, in its vitiated use, mark of an unbalanced relationship, might not favour in practice integration, neither at the level of immigration law, nor at the level of citizenship. Unbiased and fair integration requires a revision of citizenship based on residence.