The Criminalisation of Irregular Migration in Europe

This book explores the criminalisation of irregular migration in Europe. In particular, it investigates the meaning, purpose, and consequences of criminalising unauthorised entry and stay. From a theoretical perspective, the book adds to the debate on the persistence of irregular migration, despite governments' attempts at deterring it, by taking an interdisciplinary approach that draws from international political economy and criminology. Using Italy and France as case studies, and relying on previously unreleased data and interviews, it argues that criminalisation has no effect on migratory flows, and that this is due to factors including the latter's structural determinants and the likely creation of substitution effects. Furthermore, criminalisation is found to lead to adverse consequences, including by contributing to vicious cycles of irregularity and insecurity.

Explores the criminalisation of migration from an interdisciplinary perspective, incorporating both IPE and criminology Offers insights into the functioning, effectiveness and consequences of the criminalisation of irregular migration Draws on data from more than 50 interviews, 100 questionnaires, and previously unreleased official datasets

Auteur

Matilde Rosina is Fellow in International Migration at the European Institute of the London School of Economics and Political Science, UK. Her research focuses on irregular migration, with specific reference to the European context. Matilde obtained her award-winning PhD in International Political Economy from King's College London, having received scholarships from the Luigi Einaudi Foundation and the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe. Before joining LSE, Matilde lectured at City, University of London, and at Fordham University.

Résumé

"The book will be appealing to diverse audiences in criminology, IPE, international relations and migration studies. It will be equally interesting to policymakers, to whom the author sends a clear message: the only way to reduce irregular migration is to decriminalise it, be honest about Europe's systemic demand for foreign labour and above all create legal pathways for foreign nationals to safely reach Europe for both humanitarian and economic reasons" (Daniela Movileanu, The International Spectator, April 3, 2024)

"This book Rosina uses Italy and France as case studies to investigate the meaning, purpose, practice and consequences of criminalising unauthorised entry and stay. The book provides a compelling case that the criminalisation of irregular migration does not have a sizeable deterrent effect and that in the case of Italy and France the penalties are rarely used. ... The author uses exclusively descriptive statistics to describe trends in the data." (Akira Soto-Nishimura, European Journal of Migration and Law, Vol. 25 (3), August, 2023)

Contenu
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Globalisation and irregular migration.- Chapter 3. Deterrence in international migration: Between IPE and criminology.- Chapter 4. Criminalising migration in Europe.- Chapter 5. Italy: From tough rhetoric to counter-productive consequences.- Chapter 6. France: Between instrumentalization, courts, and marginalisation.- Chapter 7. The effects and counter-effects of criminalisation: On skinny balloons and vicious cycles.- Chapter 8. Conclusion.