Migration law in Denmark is a multi-layered, complex and thorny area of law. Not only are legal sources scattered across several national and international legal texts, but frequent legal amendments have also rendered the framework incoherent. Migration policy initiatives introduce only ad hoc solutions to the challenges of envisioning a unified Danish national and cultural identity. This article reviews the broader context for and the perspective on migration to Denmark. The most recent trend has been to restrict asylum seekers’ access to the country while seeking to encourage the arrival of highly skilled migrants. This legal analysis highlights the problem of reconciling Denmark’s past progressive and humanitarian approach with the restrictive policy line currently being pursued.