Moments of Humiliation, Intimidation and Implied ‘Illegality’: Encounters with Immigration Officials at the Border and the Performance of Sovereignty

Abstract

This paper examines the role of border encounter—the set of interactions between potential entrants into a country and the country's immigration officials. These interactions are laden with power relations and can involve moments of interrogation, intimidation and humiliation on the side of immigration officials and negotiations and resourcefulness on the side of potential entrants. I argue that these sets of interactions, organised by the assemblage of actors, institutions, documents, technologies, discourses and affect, inform us about one of the ways sovereignty is performed by nation-states and their representatives. Moreover, potential entrants also mobilise particular strategies to negotiate performances of sovereignty and obtain entry.