Illegal emigration may occur in countries where emigration is not allowed, or is restricted. One may sneak over the border oneself, or be smuggled by others. Also one may legally go abroad, and refuse to return. A skirmish with smugglers from Finland at the Russian border, 1853, by Vasily Hudiakov. ...

E.g., during the Cold War there were escape attempts from the DDR. Also defection was a common concern. In the same period, the U.S. seized the passports of suspected communists and restricted the movement of citizens with highly prized knowledge. After the end of the Cold War many of these restrictions were removed. Today the only restriction on the emigration of US citizens in good standing is taxation of any income emigrants earn while living outside the country. Since the end of the Cold War, restrictions are driven primarily by a concern over Brain Drain, this is when the professional classes leave in larger numbers than less skilled workers. The Cold War was the protracted geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle that emerged after World War II between the global superpowers of the Soviet Union and the United States, supported by their respective and emerging alliance partners. ... Remnant of the Berlin Wall near Potsdamer Platz, June 2003. ... A defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. ... Motto: E pluribus unum (1789 to present) (Latin: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York, New York Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government • President • Vice President Federal republic... The title page of European Union member state passports bears the name European Union, then the name of the issuing country, in the official languages of all EU countries. ... A brain drain or human capital flight is an emigration of trained and talented individuals (human capital) for other nations or jurisdictions, due to conflict or lack of opportunity or health hazards where they are living. ...

Special cases are when one flees a country as a refugee escaping persecution, or after committing a crime, trying to escape prosecution. However, as an illegal immigrant one may be sent back, and as a criminal, one may face extradition or prosecution in the other country. Illegal immigration is the act of moving to or settling in another country or region, temporarily or permanently, in violation of the law or without documents permitting an immigrant to settle in that country. ... Extradition is a formal process by which a criminal suspect held by one government is handed over to another government for trial or, if the suspect has already been tried and found guilty, to serve his or her sentence. ...

See also

• illegal immigration, illegal alien