The Criminalization of Migration

Abstract This article critically analyses the criminalization of migration, also called ‘crimmigration’, which has become a defining characteristic of immigration and refugee policies in many countries. The aim is twofold. First, the article examines the instrumental role of crimmigration as a tool of migration governance. To this end, crimmigration is situated within its broader context and the article discusses the various ways states have justified the process to pursue specific political and social objectives. Second, the article delves into the evolution of crimmigration into a multilayered phenomenon and explores its expansion through developments such as multilevel immigration enforcement, use of technology, and the externalization and privatization of migration controls. The article focuses on the negative implications of crimmigration for the human rights of migrants, particularly irregular migrants and asylum seekers in North America and Europe.