There are some problems, but the large majority of immigrants to Denmark do work. In fact if you include both intra-EU and extra-EU immigrants, the work rates are higher for immigrants than for Danes. Non-EU immigrants and Danes work at almost exactly the same rates (~85%), while intra-EU immigrants work more (90%). From Eurostat: http://i.imgur.com/2vKqI7e.png

Its a self-fulfilling prophecy, though, isn't it? As long as the trope that "immigrants are all criminals" persists as a general meme, then those immigrants will have little choice in the broader social context than to commit crimes in order to survive.

If we treated the influx of immigrants from Syria into Europe as "future leaders and workers of a new Europe" instead of "a burden and liability for future generations", then perhaps we'd get a turnaround in the scene. For as long as we continue to project the idea that immigrants and refugees are a 'lower class of society', that is forever where they will stay.

In this, I see an opportunity - if only the governments would get out of the way and make it feasible to put this new work force to productive use. As a business owner, I'm quite happy to help my fellow human beings - and in the case of immigrants and refugees, I couldn't think of anything better than lifting someone out of that band of poverty by paying them to work, and increase their quality of life. Alas, prejudice against the poor keeps them poor.

This wave of immigrants comes in a very unfortunate moment when there is a high unemployment in lots of EU countries and lots of economic immigration inside EU. This makes the new immigrants perfect candidates for welfare or criminality, because lots of low skill jobs are already occupied by previous immigrants (from eastern Europe for example).

Those willing to work aren't exactly a blessing either, unless the country has a severe shortage of labour. As far as I know none of the western European countries are in such a situation.

>I don't really mind letting a lot of people in who are willing and able to work. I mind letting people in who are going to receive the very generous welfare payments Denmark gives out, and which are part of the social contract since they never payed into the system.

Quite a lot of locals have a negative balance vs the system. Doesn't it seem a bit arbitrary to leave it that way? How about a probation system... learn the language, get a job, limit the money you can take, and don't commit any crimes.

> Doesn't it seem a bit arbitrary to leave it that way?

It is not arbitrary. A country has obligations fundamentally only to its citizens. The whole sovereignty thing.

The whole notion of sovereignty in its current form is an accident of European history. The borders of the world can't be said to be much other than arbitrary, for huge pieces of it.

Seen another way, you could remove the citizenship of people who went negative. Then you'd be rid of your obligations.

If it sounds absurd, that's because it is.