Migration and Mercy

Abstract This chapter differentiates between positive and negative forms of mercy, and then applies the virtue of mercy to some aspects of migration policy. It demonstrates that mercy provides a reason to defend migration policies that allow claims of affinity. It can also have a role to play in defending the right to remain for those undocumented migrants who cannot make claims of right to continued residence. It can, finally, also provide some reason to defend the right to spousal unification, by taking the marital relationship not as unique in itself but as a potential site for the operation of the virtue of mercy. The chapter concludes by offering some brief reflections about the future of migration and the continuing relevance of mercy in that future.