On 5/17/2019 10:28 PM, Richard Aiken
wrote:
f
it happens in the different system, Imperial doctrine would be
that
it's just too bad. OTOH, Imperial doctrine doesn't say that
you can't
ban your world's people from leaving . . .
IMTU, how to handle that is written into the Imperial
Charter. While a world government can restrict legal access by
it's citizens to the downport/upport located there, once
anyone actually makes it onto the port (whether or not this
was done legally by local lights), that person becomes a
Temporary Imperial Citizen and is *exempt* from local law
until and unless they voluntarily return to local
jurisdiction. Travel to/from downport/upport/jump is
specfically identified as falling within Imperial
jurisdiction. Technically, the local Imperial authorities
could elect to apprehend and voluntarily remand such persons
to local jurisdiction, but they RARELY choose to do so . . .
since most such persons seem to "volunteer" for the various
Imperial services at an extremely high ratio[]. :)
I would think that this would see massive abuse unless there was a
viable mechanism for extradition.
If you're referring to the prospect of a legally unassailable safe haven for planetary criminals, then I think Rupert answered that sufficiently above.
If instead the potential for "massive abuse" is in the area of acquiring "volunteers" for Imperial service, then I agree. Of course, the services are only going to accept able-bodied refugees and such individuals would have few prospects otherwise, since the Imperium (at least IMTU) can't afford much in the way of charity. The megacorps might be willing to accept long-term indentures from those who don't qualify for the services. There also may be a charitable NGO or two with a mission to care for those who would otherwise fall through the yawning cracks probably here (Imperial Salvation Army???).
So on most worlds, running away to the starport will truly be a last-ditch option, taken to get away from something even worse yet more certain. It would be like braving the Berlin Wall during the Cold War or "deciding" to join the French Foreign Legion instead of walking to the guillotine. But I don't see this as a bad thing, storywise. :)
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