The Violence of Development and the Migration/Insecurities Nexus: labour migration in a North American context

Abstract

This article sets out to challenge the dominant perspective on the nexus between migration and security. In particular since the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001 the discourse on migrants has been increasingly ‘securitised’. Migrants are seen as potential terrorists and thus constitute a security risk for the state. Taking the vantage point of migrants the present article introduces another nexus: the migration–insecurities nexus. It argues that migration as a social process is embedded in violence and insecurities. To start, the mal- or underdevelopment in sending regions has caused many people to migrate—in other words, migration is in part a consequence of the ‘violence of development’. However, the insecurities related to the migratory process do not end with the initial moment of departure—they extend to the entire migratory experience, ranging from crossing borders to being subjected to abuse and discrimination at the workplace and the risk of being deported. Additionally, family members and communities of origin are not exempt from being exposed to multiple insecurities. In sum, the article presents a different take on migration as a potential security risk, using Mexican migration to the USA as example.