Migrants go home: This man believes he has a plan to solve the refugee crisis in the EU
Remigration, a policy advocating the return of migrants to their home countries, is gaining momentum in European politics, with figures like Martin Sellner and parties such as the AfD and FPÖ leading the controversial debate on reversing migration flows to preserve ethnocultural cohesion.
In November 2024, the Bavarian branch of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party adopted a “Resolution for Remigration,” calling for the return of migrants, including those deemed insufficiently integrated, to their countries of origin. This move has ignited significant controversy and drawn criticism from various political figures and parties that view it as a discriminatory policy. Herbert Kickl, leader of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), has championed a similar stance, incorporating remigration into his party’s platform as a means to address immigration and preserve national identity, further amplifying the debate.
Martin Sellner is an Austrian political activist and a leading figure in the Identitarian movement of Austria. In his book Remigration: A Proposal (2024), Sellner outlines strategies for the remigration of culturally, economically, politically, and religiously non-assimilable foreigners. He emphasizes distinguishing remigration from inhumane scenarios, proposing a structured approach to reverse what he terms “replacement migration,” a phenomenon he argues has been ongoing in Europe for decades.
Given his extensive involvement in anti-immigration movements, Sellner is regarded as an expert on remigration concepts. His proposals have influenced political discourse, as evidenced by the Bavarian AfD’s resolution. In this interview with Sellner, we discuss his perspectives on remigration, exploring the motivations behind his proposals, the practicalities of implementing such policies, and their potential societal impacts.
What specific mechanisms or policies do you propose to implement remigration in a way that avoids social instability or international condemnation?
Remigration is based on voluntariness and seeks to reverse the push-and-pull factors of migration by creating incentives for emigration while removing those that encourage harmful immigration. To avoid social instability, the process is implemented gradually and in phases, using ultimatums and announcements where appropriate, depending on the severity of each case. International criticism is addressed by forming broad coalitions across Europe and aligning with countries like England, Canada, and the United States, which are already rethinking their migration policies.
How would remigration policies address the potential economic impacts of reducing migrant populations, particularly in aging societies that depend on migrant labor?
The demographic crisis is often used to justify population substitution and replacement migration, based on the misleading argument that such policies will help fund pensions. In reality, non-European immigration, particularly from North Africa and Arab countries, has been shown to increase the need for skilled labor rather than alleviating it, while also placing significant burdens on healthcare and education systems. Numerous studies have confirmed this, showing that this type of migration generates more costs than benefits. Remigration, particularly of illegal migrants and those who present economic or cultural disadvantages, would significantly ease these burdens. While labor shortages in areas like caregiving exist, the long-term solution lies in promoting domestic labor forces and family policies, as demonstrated by countries like Japan and South Korea, even though transitional measures may still be necessary in the short term.
Are there historical or contemporary examples of large-scale population remigrations that influenced your thinking? What lessons do they offer?
Yes, there are several historical examples of remigration. One significant case is the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, which partly inspired the concept. While this process involved considerable hardships, it successfully prevented many potential civil wars, as illustrated by the situation in Cyprus. In this exchange, the Greek minority in Turkey moved to Greece, and the Turkish minority in Greece relocated to Turkey. Other examples include the reversal of demographic trends in Fiji, where tens of thousands of Indians returned to their country of origin, and recent mass repatriations of Afghans from Pakistan. In the United States, Operation Wetback saw over 1.1 million illegal immigrants returned to Mexico in a single year. The key takeaway from these examples is that migration is not a one-way street. Throughout history, mass migrations have often been followed by remigration movements. It is crucial to acknowledge this reality and foster open, honest discussions about the implications and challenges of such policies.
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