Conclusion: Envisioning Better Governance of Irregular Migration

Abstract

AbstractIrregular migration is a multifaceted phenomenon that comprises various perspectives, policies, and actors. This concluding chapter sums up some key findings of research on such a contentious issue. It will discuss a narrative for irregular migration beyond the idea of ‘invasion’, so frequently employed by anti-immigrant actors in developed countries, and elaborate on why implementing policies that categorically exclude migrants is difficult. We argue in the chapter that the main reason for this difficulty is that irregular immigration is not only a force stemming from the outside; it is also deeply embedded in the internal dynamics of receiving societies. From this perspective, the fight against irregular migration is not a categorical exclusion; instead, it is a tacit selection which targets some cases with fierce determination while implicitly but systematically condoning others. Moreover, we show that irregular migration finds a way to carve out a place in receiving societies, circumventing controls or enjoying tolerance, because it is situated at the intersection among different societal factors. Among them, together with labour market’s demand, solidarity by civil societies warrants attention. We use the concept of ‘debordering solidarity’ to indicate the solidarity that overcomes the distinction between citizens and non-citizens, authorised and non-authorised migrants, and that gives priority to human rights and people’s needs.