George Soros on Immigration
TL;DR
George Soros advocates for a comprehensive, rights-based EU plan to manage migration that includes accepting substantial numbers of refugees and funding frontline nations.
Key Points
He proposed the EU should provide at least €15,000 per asylum-seeker for the first two years to assist with housing, health-care, and education costs (2015).
He explicitly called for the EU to reject mandatory resettlement quotas, arguing that the allocation of refugees should be entirely voluntary (2018).
In 2016, the Open Society Foundations announced a pledge to invest up to $500 million in businesses founded by migrants and refugees.
Summary
George Soros has publicly detailed his proposals for managing the European migration and asylum crises, which are often consolidated and referred to as the 'Soros Migration Plan' by critics and analysts. His core position centers on the necessity of a unified, comprehensive European Union strategy rooted in human rights, rather than fragmented national approaches. Key elements of his evolving proposals have consistently included advocating for the EU to accept a substantial number of asylum-seekers annually through secure and orderly channels, alongside providing significant financial support to frontline countries hosting the majority of refugees.
His specific recommendations, articulated across several writings between 2015 and 2018, suggest a shift from an initial call for accepting at least one million asylum-seekers annually to a more moderate, yet still substantial, figure like 300,000, while stressing the importance of fair burden-sharing among member states through voluntary mechanisms. The philanthropist also advocates for the EU to create common mechanisms for border protection, asylum processing, and refugee relocation, while also supporting the private sector's role in integration and creating economic opportunities in refugees' home countries to reduce migration pressure.
Key Quotes
The EU has to accept at least a million asylum-seekers annually for the foreseeable future. And, to do that, it must share the burden fairly.
We will seek investments in a variety of sectors, among them emerging digital technology, which seems especially promising as a way to provide solutions to the particular problems that dislocated people often face.
Forcibly relocating [migrants] to other countries is neither possible nor desirable. Other countries, particularly Poland and Hungary, would strenuously resist ... I have always advocated that the allocation of refugees within Europe should be entirely voluntary.
Frequently Asked Questions
George Soros holds a strong, positive position on creating managed and humane immigration and asylum systems. He advocates for the European Union to have a comprehensive plan that accepts a significant number of asylum-seekers annually through safe channels. He believes this approach respects human rights and is necessary to overcome the crisis effectively.
Yes, the proposals attributed to George Soros, often termed the 'Soros Migration Plan,' have evolved over time. For instance, an earlier suggestion to accept at least one million asylum seekers annually was later revised to a commitment of around 300,000 per year.
George Soros stated that the strong showing of far-right parties in Italy was partly due to the EU's 'flawed migration policies' that imposed an unfair financial burden on the country. He suggested the EU should financially compensate Italy for the migrants landing there, rather than using forced resettlement.
Sources6
Wondering what PM Orbán meant with that reference to the Soros plan? Here it is
Considering George Soros, Villain on the Right, Hero on the Left
George Soros, founder of Open Society Foundations, Invests $500M in Refugees
Soros' Migration Plan – A Myth Or Reality?
George Soros says EU should compensate Italy over migration
Does George Soros support plans for immigrants flows into Europe?
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.