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Irregular Migration

  1. definition
  2. examples and/or illustrations
  3. other useful sources
  4. bibliography


Definition

Movement that takes place outside the regulatory norms of the sending, transit and receiving countries…From the perspective of destination countries it is entry, stay or work in a country without the necessary authorization or documents required under immigration regulations. From the perspective of the sending country, the irregularity is for example seen in cases in which a person crosses an international boundary without a valid passport or travel document or does not fulfil the administrative requirements for leaving the country.

International Organization for Migration. (2011). Key migration terms. Retrieved from: https://www.iom.int/cms/en/sites/iom/home/about-migration/key-migration-terms1.html#Irregular-migration (accessed February 19, 2014)

Irregular migration includes a variety of movements and statuses that conflict with migration laws in both migrant-transit and migrant-receiving countries and, taken in its broadest definition, encompasses illegal entry, overstaying visas, remaining as a rejected asylum-seeker and engaging in prohibited work.

Newcombe, E. (2005). Irregular migration: Research, policy and practice, COMPAS, Annual International Conference, July 7-8, 2005. The International Migration Review, 39(4), 962-964.

Irregular migration”is a form of migration in which the rules of entry or residence have been disregarded at some point during the migration process. Migrants can acquire an irregular status by birth, illegal entry, and overstaying or status withdrawal

Straßmayr, C., Matanov, A., Priebe, S., Barros, H., Canavan, R., Díaz-Olalla, J. M., Katschnig, H. (2012). Mental health care for irregular migrants in Europe: Barriers and how they are overcome. BMC Public Health, 12, n/a-367. doi: http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/10.1186/1471-2458-12-367

 

Examples and/or Illustrations

“Illegal migration to Canada is seen as an end result of the mismatch between the labour shortage in Canadian economy and skilled workers who are selected to come to Canada according to the point system.”

Atanackovic, J., Bougeault, I. L., LeBrun, J., Paipia, R., Rashid, A., & Winkup, J. (date unknown).  Immigrant care workers in aging societies: The Canadian context and experience. Ontario Health Human Resource Research Network, Ottawa, Ontario. Retrieved from: http://www.healthworkermigration.com/images/stories/docs/immigrant-care-workers-report-2.pdf (accessed February 19, 2014)

“Most international criminal law measures deal with irregular migration by strengthening border controls and criminalising the facilitators.”

International Council on Human Rights Policy. (2010). Irregular migration, migrant smuggling and human rights: Towards coherence. Retrieved from: http://www.ichrp.org/files/summaries/41/122_pb_en.pdf (accessed February 19, 2014)

“Reducing irregular migration can also better secure the well-being of migrants and potential migrants by keeping them out of the hands of persons who are not concerned for the welfare of migrants, and who are willing to use force and abuse to achieve their purposes.”

International Organization for Migration. (2004). Irregular migration Section 3.12, Essentials of migration management volume three: Managing migration. Retrieved from: mhttp://www.rcmvs.org/documentos/IOM_EMM/v3/V3S12_CM.pdf (accessed February 19, 2014)

“Prevention involves a range of actions such as mitigating the underlying factors that make people more vulnerable to irregular migration, by fostering political and socio-economic conditions and promoting better livelihood sustainability.”

Tan, V. (2013, August 21). UNHCR welcomes Jakarta Declaration to address irregular movements in      Asia-Pacific. News stories. UNHCR The UN Refugee Agency. Retrieved           from: http://www.unhcr.ca/news/2013-08-21.htm (accessed February 19, 2014)

 

Other Useful Sources

Angenendt, S. (2008). Irregular migration as an international problem risks and options. Stiftung Wessenschaft und Politik Research Paper. Retrieved from:  http://www.swpberlin.org/fileadmin/contents/products/research_papers/2008_RP04_adt_  ks.pdf (accessed March 19, 2014)

Clandestino. (2012). Database on Irregular Migration. Retrieved from: http://irregular-migration.net/index.php?id=183 (accessed February 19, 2014)

Fitz, M. (2012). Time to legalize out 11 million undocumented migrants. Centre for American Progress. Retrieved from:           http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2012/11/14/44885/time-to-            legalize-our-11-million-undocumented-immigrants/ (accessed March 19, 2014)

International Organization for Migration. (2004). Irregular migration Section 3.12, Essentials of migration management volume three: Managing migration. Retrieved from: http://www.rcmvs.org/documentos/IOM_EMM/v3/V3S12_CM.pdf (accessed February 19, 2014)

Keung, N. (2013, February 21). Toronto declared ‘sanctuary city’ to non-status migrants. The       Toronto Star. Retrieved from: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/02/21/cisanctuarycity21.html (accessed March 19, 2014)

Smick, E. (2006). Council on Foreign Relations, Canada’s Immigration Policy. Retrieved from:  

http://www.cfr.org/canada/canadas-immigration-policy/p11047 (accessed February 19, 2014) 

Case Law

http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/491

No one is Illegal. (2010, October 21). Harper repeats past immigration blunders, targets migrants. Media Advisory. Retrieved from: http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/491(accessed February 19, 2014) http://www.fidh.org/en/europe/Italy/European-Court-declares-that-Italy

Fidh. (2012, February 24). European Court declares that Italy’s policy against irregular migration violates human rights. Retrieved from: http://www.fidh.org/en/europe/Italy/European-Court-declares-that-Italy (accessed Feburary 19, 2014)  

https://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/irregular-migrants-treated-criminals-cyprus-2012-06-19

Amnesty International. (2012, June 19). Irregular migrants treated as criminals in Cyprus. Retrieved from:  https://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/irregular-migrants-treated-                criminals-cyprus-2012-06-19 (accessed February 19, 2014)

Elliott v. R

Elliott v. R NZCA 611 (2012). Retrieved from Refworld website: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4e0a005a2.html (accessed March 22, 2014)

Nowak v. Ukraine 

Nowak v. Ukraine 60846/10. (2011). Retrieved from HUDOC website: http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng/pages/search.aspx?i=001-104289 (accessed March 22, 2014)  

Other Related Terms

Trafficking, Forced Labour, Forced Migration, Detention, Refugee, Migrant Smuggling, Illegal Immigrants, Borders, Border Control, Security, Transnational Mobility, Asylum Seeker

 

Bibliography

Amnesty International. (2012, June 19). Irregular migrants treated as criminals in Cyprus. Retrieved from:  https://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/irregular-migrants-treated-criminals-cyprus-2012-06-19  (accessed February 19, 2014)

Angenendt, S. (2008). Irregular migration as an international problem risks and options.   Stiftung Wessenschaft und Politik Research Paper. Retrieved from: http://www.swpberlin.org/fileadmin/contents/products/research_papers/2008_RP04_adt_  ks.pdf (accessed March 19, 2014)

Atanackovic, J., Bougeault, I. L., LeBrun, J., Paipia, R., Rashid, A., & Winkup, J. (date    unknown).  Immigrant care workers in aging societies: The Canadian context and   experience. Ontario Health Human Resource Research Network, Ottawa,Ontario. Retrieved from: http://www.healthworkermigration.com/images/stories/docs/immigrant-      care-workers-report-2.pdf (accessed February 19, 2014)

Clandestino. (2012). Database on Irregular Migration. Retrieved from: http://irregular-migration.net/index.php?id=183 (accessed February 19, 2014)

Elliott v. R NZCA 611 (2012). Retrieved from Refworld website: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4e0a005a2.html (accessed March 22, 2014)

Fidh. (2012, February 24). European Court declares that Italy’s policy against irregular migration violates human rights. Retrieved from: http://www.fidh.org/en/europe/Italy/European-Court-declares-that-Italy (accessed Feburary 19, 2014)    

Fitz, M. (2012). Time to legalize out 11 million undocumented migrants. Centre for American Progress. Retrieved from:           http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2012/11/14/44885/time-to-            legalize-our-11-million-undocumented-immigrants/ (accessed March 19, 2014)

International Council on Human Rights Policy. (2010). Irregular migration, migrant smuggling    and human rights: Towards coherence. Retrieved from: http://www.ichrp.org/files/summaries/41/122_pb_en.pdf (accessed February 19, 2014)

International Organization for Migration. (2004). Irregular Migration Section 3.12, Essentials of  Migration Management Volume Three: Managing Migration. Retrieved from: http://www.rcmvs.org/documentos/IOM_EMM/v3/V3S12_CM.pdf (accessed February 19, 2014)

Keung, N. (2013, February 21). Toronto declared ‘sanctuary city’ to non-status migrants. The       Toronto Star. Retrieved from: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/02/21/cisanctuarycity21.html (accessed March 19, 2014)

Newcombe, E. (2005). Irregular migration: Research, policy and practice, COMPAS, Annual International Conference, July 7-8, 2005. The International Migration Review, 39(4), 962-964.

No one is Illegal. (2010, October 21). Harper repeats past immigration blunders, targets     migrants. Media Advisory. Retrieved from: http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/491(accessed February 19, 2014)

Nowak v. Ukraine 60846/10. (2011). Retrieved from HUDOC website: http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng/pages/search.aspx?i=001-104289 (accessed March 22, 2014)  

Smick, E. (2006). Council on Foreign Relations, Canada’s Immigration Policy. Retrieved from:  http://www.cfr.org/canada/canadas-immigration-policy/p11047 (accessed February 19, 2014)

Straßmayr, C., Matanov, A., Priebe, S., Barros, H., Canavan, R., Díaz-Olalla, J. M., Katschnig,     H. (2012). Mental health care for irregular migrants in europe: Barriers and how they are overcome. BMC Public Health, 12, n/a-367. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/10.1186/1471-2458-12-367

Tan, V. (2013, August 21). UNHCR welcomes Jakarta Declaration to address irregular     movements in Asia-Pacific. News stories. UNHCR The UN Refugee Agency. Retrieved from: http://www.unhcr.ca/news/2013-08-21.htm (accessed February 19, 2014)