Irregular Migrants in European Cities: How to respond? (with subtitles)
Channel: COMPAS, University of Oxford
Date: 2019-04-03

This short film helps understand why cities across Europe think it is important to be inclusive towards irregular migrants. It showcases the experiences of five European cities: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Gent and Utrecht, with further contributions from municipal officials of the cities of Zurich and Oslo.  

Irregular migrants are foreign nationals who are not authorised to remain in the country where they reside. Some entered the country without the proper authorisation; others lost their authorisation when they remained beyond the limits imposed by their visa or residence permits. Children may be born with an “irregular migration status” inherited from their parents. Irregular migrants in Europe are not entitled to work and are generally excluded from the majority of public services, as they are expected to return to their country of nationality. 

However, many do not or cannot return, and often find themselves at the margins of society in European cities. They may not (or are afraid to) go to a hospital or to school. If they are victims of crime, they are fearful of going to the police. If they are homeless, they may have little chances of finding shelter or support with housing. These conditions of marginalisation create problems, for local communities as well as the migrants themselves.  

Several cities across Europe have decided to adopt a more inclusive approach towards irregular migrants, and have adopted initiatives to facilitate, rather than impede, their access to the local police, medical, or education services. They have provided them with legal advice, and sometimes assistance to access housing. 

While providing services to people who are not authorised to stay might seem counter-intuitive, it is often in the best interest of local communities to live in a city where everyone can go to the police, hospital or school, or live in safe housing rather than on the streets. 

Moreover, because of these cities’ initiatives many people come out of irregularity through regularisation of their immigration status, or voluntarily return to their country of origin. 

This film was produced by the Global Exchange on Migration and Diversity, the knowledge exchange arm of University of Oxford’s Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS). The film describes the work of a network of 11 European cities aiming to find pragmatic solutions to the challenges brought by irregular migration - the City Initiative on Migrants with Irregular Status in Europe (C-MISE). For further details please visit: https://www.compas.ox.ac.uk/project/city-initiative-on-irregular-migrants-in-europe-c-mise

This video was made possible through the support of the Open Society Foundations (OSF).