Border Control Research Articles

Externalisation of Migration Controls: A Taxonomy of Practices and Their Implications in International and European Law

The externalisation of migration and border controls refers to a series of practices whereby States attempt to manage migration flows and enforce immigration policies beyond their borders, often by collaborating with other countries or non-state actors. Externalisation can involve various measures such as outsourcing border control functions, implementing agreements with neighbouring or transit countries to intercept migrants before they reach the State’s territory, and providing aid or incentives for other countries to prevent or reduce migration flows. Externalisation practices are employed to shift the burden of migration management away from the receiving state and onto other actors or territories, often to limit responsibilities and on the assumption that human rights obligations only apply territorially. In an attempt to challenge such an assumption and to frame the nature of human rights obligations in the context of externalisation practices, this article develops a taxonomy of externalisation measures and provides an overview of the jurisdictional approaches to the extraterritorial scope of human rights obligations.

A Facial Recognition Panopticon on Border and Migration Controls: Can Privacy and Data Protection Survive?

A Facial Recognition Panopticon on Border and Migration Controls: Can Privacy and Data Protection Survive?

Machine Learning based Data Sensing Device Network with Optimized Group Formation and Group Head Selection

Sensor devices for data sensing (referred to as DSDs) are used in use cases such as border control and vehicle tracking. The architecture of the Data Sensing Device Network (DSDN) is established by integrating numerous DSDs across a given region, forming multiple groups. Within each group, a specific DSD is designated to facilitate communication between independent groups. The multi attribute values are captured and these attribute values effect the selection of head DSDs. For each of DSD this value ranges between 0.1 to 1. The DSD which has the highest value of range will be treated as Group Head in LEACH. The attributes are namely distance, battery level for each DSD. From the source DSD to destination DSD the link formation will happen end to end by making use of DSDs and base station, generally the end-to-end link communication has larger hops. This will have a ripple effect on battery level for DSDs and can cause reduced lifetime. The Energy based LEACH is modified on top of LEACH by computing the battery level for DSDs and picking DSD with highest battery level. The Energy based LEACH will have two DSDs in each group acting like head DSDs. Machine Learning Data Sensing Device Network (ML-DSDN) is proposed which will first create group DSDNs based on k means machine learning algorithm. ML-DSDN will find the head group DSD based on combination of random forest and SVM algorithm with set theory. The comparison is done of ML-DSDN with respect to ELEACH and LEACH method and it is proved that ML-DSDN performs better with respect to delay, link count, energy consumption, alive DSD count, dead DSD count, lifetime ratio, routing overhead.

Multiple Encounters: Queer Migrants and Bureaucratic Violence

In this paper, we analyze the multiple encounters queer asylum seekers face due to violence embedded in border control and asylum recognition processes. This analysis is based on the reconstitution of two narratives that form part of an ethnographic study, the result of five years of fieldwork with queer migrants in Brazil and Spain. We employ the notion of bureaucratic violence to understand the ambiguities between control and protection in the emergence of the LGBTI refugee as a subject of rights in the humanitarian realm.

Gendered migration infrastructure and socio-spatial rupture: Indian women’s migration experiences to the United Arab Emirates

ABSTRACT Increasing cross-border mobilities for employment and livelihood opportunities has resulted in greater institutional and regulatory controls over migration. In this paper, through an analysis of the migration infrastructure for women between India and the United Arab Emirates, socio-spatial ruptures are discerned. The paper asserts that in addition to economic and political frameworks, social and cultural mores have been significant in shaping differentiated migration pathways for Indian women, which are conceptualised as, “gendered migration infrastructure”. Gendered migration infrastructure for Indian women is founded on normative understandings of domesticity and femininity and consequently, has made migration for women restrictive, circuitous and cumbersome. The failure and interruptions of migration infrastructure has occurred across borders and the differentiated migration pathways thus created lie at the intersection of formal regulations and actors (migration laws, recruitment and skilling organisations, state agents, border controls, civil society and bureaucracy) and informal intermediaries and practices (subagents, bypassing emigration procedures, irregular channels and corruption). By drawing on the narratives of Indian migrant women, the paper highlights the negotiations undertaken by migrant women and the impact of gendered migration infrastructure on their (im)mobilities, migratory experiences, and outcomes. Further, socio-spatial ruptures due to the COVID-19 pandemic created cracks in the migration infrastructure, deepening the precarities faced by migrant women. Overall, the paper aims to contribute to the literature on gendered migration and transnationalism in addition to shedding light on the migration of Indian women across income and legal categories, an under-researched topic currently.

The Shengen Agreement and European Integration

Since the conclusion of the Schengen Agreement, the importance of asylum and migration policy for the EU has increased significantly. "Schengen" constitutes an essential element of the freedom of movement formulated by the European Union as the central objective of its policy, i.e. the unrestricted movement of all citizens between EU member states and the freedom of establishment granted therein. Cooperation of EU member states is mainly based on the development of restrictive rules for a common border and visa policy, as well as cooperation to limit asylum immigration. Since the 1990s, tools to improve border controls have mainly consisted of regulations declaring other states “safe third countries” and “safe countries of origin and transit,” making them responsible for asylum procedures. Such regulations have often been supported by treaties with countries of origin or transit, which have not always been willing or able to guarantee human rights. Member states in their domestic policies have extensive debates and disagreements on the direction of asylum policy. While some states want to protect the rights of those seeking protection, others prioritize controlling and limiting immigration. In the early 2000s, the EU decided on minimum standards for national asylum legislation and asylum procedures, not in the interests of those seeking protection, but mainly to prevent those seeking protection from moving to find better conditions in other countries according to very different standards. . However, minimum standards have remained limited by national discretion, so differences in procedures and benefits afforded to recognized asylum seekers and refugees remain extremely wide. Received: 25 December 2023 / Accepted: 25 February 2024 / Published: 23 April 2024

A Review on Economic Implications of Nigeria’s Border Closure on Rice Importation

Nigeria’s border closure on rice importation has significant economic implications that require comprehensive analysis. Policymakers must consider both the short-term and long-term effects, as well as broader socioeconomic factors. Balancing economic considerations with employment, food security, and regional disparities is crucial for inclusive and sustainable development. By adopting a holistic approach, Nigeria can navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the border closure, achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, and promote the well-being of its citizens. Gradually phasing out the border closure while enhancing the competitiveness of local rice producers through incentives and support will ensure market efficiency. Investing in agricultural research, extension services, and infrastructure development will improve productivity and quality. Strengthening border control mechanisms will prevent smuggling. To sustain regional economic partnerships, it is critical to collaborate with neighboring countries. Nigeria's border barrier for rice imports presents numerous obstacles and opportunities. Nigeria has the power to attain rice self-sufficiency and promote all-encompassing and sustainable development by implementing a comprehensive strategy that successfully balances economic considerations with broader social factors. This includes gradually phasing out the border closure while enhancing the competitiveness of local rice producers, investing in agricultural research and infrastructure development, strengthening border control mechanisms to prevent smuggling, and collaborating with neighboring countries to maintain regional trade relationships.

Implementation of a pilot checklist for control standardization on fishery goods consignments at the Livorno border control post

To standardize control activities, it is necessary to introduce checklists to support the control of consignments entering the European Union through border control posts (BCPs). This study aimed to develop a pilot checklist for the control of fishery consignments, preliminarily identified as the predominant group of goods entering the Livorno (Italy) BCP. The design of the pilot checklist was preceded by i) a revision of the current European and national legislation on the general and specific objectives of border control activities on fishery products and ii) a comparative analysis of two checklists (one of the Ministry of Health and one of the former Livorno border inspection post) developed on the basis of the repealed legislation. This comparison aimed to define the pilot checklist structure, verification objectives, and selection of assessment scores to be included in defining consignment compliance and acceptability. Once developed, the clarity and ease of use of the first draft of the pilot checklist were verified through its use in a field test during the control of 64 fishery product consignments. 22 regulatory sources (18 European and 4 national) were selected as reference legislation. The pilot checklist was structured as a dynamic “read-do” document based on the workflow of control activities described in the current legislation. The field test was useful in improving the clarity of the verification objectives within the documentary, identity, and physical control sections and in facilitating the use of the checklist and the collection of evidence during the control activity. This study, which focused on fishery products, can provide a practical approach for the development of checklists for all the other goods categories under the responsibility of BCPs.

Surviving the storm: navigating the quadruple whammy impact on Europe's food supply chain

SummaryThis article explores the impact of the ‘Quadruple Whammy’ consisting of Brexit, COVID‐19, Conflicts (Russia‐Ukraine and Israel‐Palestine) and Natural disasters on the food supply chain in Europe. This research adopted a two‐phase methodology comprised of the e‐Delphi technique followed by the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses) approach within the context of these four identified challenges. The objective of this article is to analyse the challenges faced by the European food supply chain due to these four factors. The article examines the impact of political isolationism such as Brexit on trade, cost and border controls, while also discussing the effects of COVID‐19 on labour, supply chains and the rise of e‐commerce. In addition, the article examines the impact of conflicts on food access and availability and the role of international aid and assistance. The effects of natural disasters, such as the Turkish and Moroccan earthquakes, floods in Spain and Portugal and the Moroccan drought, on food security are also analysed. The article offers several strategies for taming the quadruple whammy, such as investing in local food production and supply chains, diversifying supply chains and trade partnerships and strengthening food safety regulations and standards. The importance of building resilience and preparedness in the face of these challenges is emphasised and the article concludes with final thoughts and recommendations.

Robodeport or surveillance fantasy?: how automated is automatic visa cancellation in Australia?

Australia has been widely condemned for its harsh and comprehensive external border controls that seek to control the inward mobility of would-be asylum seekers through visa denial, interdiction and offshore detention. Less widely discussed is the fact that internal controls have been repeatedly ramped up over the past two decades. This includes the administrative removal of lawfully-present non-citizens following visa cancellation on character grounds under s501 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth). Automatic visa cancellation was introduced in 2014 for non-citizens sentenced to a prison term of 12 months or more, or for certain offences, bypassing individualised decision-making and raising the spectre of a visa cancellation pipeline feeding a highly automated deportation machinery. In an age of increasingly automated forms of governance, a key question that arises is the role that has been played by automated systems in achieving what has been a seismic shift in practice, and the normative implications of any developments towards automation within the visa cancellation and removal systems. This paper outlines the shift towards automation in other systems of governance in Australia-most notably the notorious Robodebt scheme-before examining automation in Australia's visa cancellation system. Documentary analysis of recent parliamentary inquiries, independent reports and government policy is used to piece together the development of inter-agency data exchange practices and automation over three specific periods-historical practice pre-2014, post-2014 to the present, and proposed future developments. We conclude that Australia's s501 visa cancellation system is neither automated nor automatic. Rather, the 2014 law reform gave rise to a 'surveillance fantasy' with immense consequences for non-citizens, particularly those who face long days in immigration detention at the conclusion of their prison sentence. We show that while concerns about increasing automation are well-founded, systems based on less sophisticated forms of information handling and reliant on human decision-making nevertheless continue to raise age-old questions concerning efficiency, accuracy and fairness.

Impact of herd mobility on brucellosis seroprevalence and spread risk resulting from cross-border transhumance.

Cross-border livestock mobility through transhumance is mainly practiced in West African countries for seasonal access to resources and market. Cross-border herds are involved in the dynamic of transboundary animal diseases among them brucellosis taken as model. Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease causing abortion. This study explores the seroprevalence of brucellosis according to mobility and infection spread between Mali and Côte d'Ivoire in the context of seasonal cross-border transhumance. From February to April 2021, a transversal serological survey of brucellosis was conducted on 521 cattle from 111 transhumant herds and 283 cattle from 59 sedentary herds, all from Mali. The global individual seroprevalence for Brucella spp. in transhumant and sedentary cattle from Mali was 8.2% (95% CI=6.0-10.5). At herd level, seroprevalence was 21.2% with a significant variation between transhumant (11.7%) and sedentary (39.0%) herds. For herds in transhumance, cattle seropositivity was associated with a previous infection suspected by herdsmen odds ratio (OR=4.4; 95% CI=1.1-18.1) and unknown abortion aetiology (OR=4.3; 95% CI=1.0-17.3). The departure region (coming from Sikasso) and previous brucellosis infection or unexplained abortion could be used to predict Brucella infection in transhumant herds with a probability of around 60%. The risk of brucellosis introduction in host regions was high despite the individual animal seroprevalence of 3.6% and a low sale rate in transhumant cattle. The findings suggest that testing transhumant during border control and survey of cattle markets and sales could improve risk control of the spread of disease at regional scale.

The “Schengen Turn” as the Reshaping of the French-Italian Border: The Critical Convergence of the Geography of Border Controls and Capitalist Dynamics (1990s-2000s)

ABSTRACT On the 1st of January 1993, border controls at the French-Italian border were officially “abolished” in the framework of the Schengen area. However, the border didn’t disappear; rather, its geography adjusted to the evolution of the capitalist logics of the European market, creating a hierarchized borderzone where “boundaries and scales intersect to fuel further expansion of (…) the frontiers of capital” (Mezzadra and Neilson 2013, 321). The article draws on the fields of critical border studies and radical geography to show the critical convergence of capitalist dynamics and border police practices in the French-Italian border zone. This has been reflected in the production of transport infrastructures enabling high-speed cross-border circulation at the expense of local roads and practices. Moreover, the evolution from “fixed” border control to “random and mobile” identity checks led to the creation of a police targeting system that selects passengers on the basis of a social-racial profiling. After the Schengen agreements, the French-Italian border became a mobile device allowing the accumulation of capital through the selection of “legitimate travelers” and the control of “illegal migrants”, enacting locally the “polarization of mobility” (Bauman 1998) that occured at a global scale at the turn of the twenty-first century.

Maritime border formalities, facilitation and security nexus: Reconstructing immigration clearance in Indonesia

The nexus of immigration maritime border control is characterized by three key components, namely formalities, facilitation, and security. These components are analyzed based on 29 national laws about maritime border, which are categorized into 10 clusters based on the roles and responsibilities of Indonesian border agencies. Therefore, this research aimed to explore and reconstruct legal framework governing maritime border control of Indonesia, examine clearance and reconstruction process and redefine the associated concepts. It focused on immigration surveillance, operations, patrols and control with data-driven profiling and border risk assessment.

“On Their Own Terms”: Agency, Advocacy and Representation in Refugee Webcomics

ABSTRACT In Australia, refugees remain on the margins of the public imaginary as subjects of aversion, erasure and suspicion. The unknowability of the foreign Other carries sharp political dimensions borne out in policies of strict border control and mandatory detention that have restricted public access to the voices and stories of refugees for over two decades. However, recent life narratives by refugees provide an antidote to this dominant discourse, by testifying to the traumatic precariousness of living in detention and confronting readers with unflinching visual displays of subjects often silenced and invisible. Safdar Ahmed’s Walkley Award–winning documentary webcomic, Villawood: Notes from an Immigration Detention Centre (2015), documents the lives, experiences and drawings of detainees in Sydney’s Villawood Immigration Detention Centre. This article reads Villawood as an example of the vital rhetorical and representative work done by webcomics to expose the violences of Australia’s border spaces and put the personal stories of detainees in dialogue with vast audiences online. By attending to the collaborative and mediated process of its construction, this article maps the critical literacies needed to interpret webcomics as testimony and considers what this medium might offer life narrative studies and the project of ethical witnessing more broadly.

Border control

Border control

Report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) on the microbiological criteria for Vibrio cholerae, as additional control measures at border control posts, applicable to imported frozen prawns and other fishery products

Report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) on the microbiological criteria for Vibrio cholerae, as additional control measures at border control posts, applicable to imported frozen prawns and other fishery products

National Security Threats in the Indonesian Border Areas with Timor Leste

The border area between Indonesia and Timor Leste is an area that is vulnerable to national security threats. This situation is caused by various factors, such as differences in socio-economic conditions, illegal cross-border activities, and the potential for conflict between countries both countries. Some of these problems certainly require the role of the government, institutions and society to be resolved properly. The purpose of this writing is to analyze national security threats in the border area between Indonesia and Timor Leste. This paper uses qualitative methods which can provide a description and description of the phenomenon being studied. The results of this research show that the conditions of the RDTL and NKRI border areas in NTT Province do not yet show an ideal picture. The advice that author can give are to increase cooperation in exchanging intelligence data and joint border security operations; build and modernize border post infrastructure and patrol roads; increasing TNI and Polri personnel stationed in border areas; carry out outreach and empowerment of border communities, encourage ratification of the extradition agreement between Indonesia and Timor Leste and establish cooperation and capacity building assistance for Timor Leste in border control.

THE EUROPEAN UNION AND TERRORIST THREATS: THE NEXT STEP (PART III)

In the previous two articles in the series, describing changes in the perception of terrorist threats throughout the European Union, there was presenting an outline of the European Union’s new approach to this issue, based not only on legal acts (such as Directive 2017/541 on combating terrorism) but also on documents of a strategic nature. Finally, the reader’s attention was focused on the issues of combating and counteracting the financing of terrorism, which has become the leitmotif of anti-terrorist activities in recent years. The third part will be dedicated to the dynamic changes taking place in the Schengen acquis. The rules initially regarding the mechanism for abolishing internal border controls of the countries belonging to this zone are being significantly modified before our eyes and are becoming the basis for introducing new solutions in the area of exchange and access to data between EU member states. Many of them are also to combat terrorism more effectively.

Leveraging IoT for Enhanced National Security : A Comprehensive Review

In an era marked by rapid technological advancement and evolving security threats, the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies has emerged as a pivotal strategy for bolstering national security efforts. The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into national security frameworks offers unprecedented opportunities for enhancing situational awareness, proactive threat detection, and effective response mechanisms. By deploying IoT devices such as sensors, cameras, and drones across various sectors including border control, critical infrastructure protection, and emergency management, governments can achieve real-time monitoring and data-driven decision-making capabilities. This paper gives a comprehensive review of the use of IoT technologies in national security, including real-time surveillance, border control and critical infrastructure protection. It examines the challenges and propose strategies, including the development of robust regulatory frameworks.

The Arduous Journey: Illegal Immigration from Pakistan to the UK

Illegal immigration from Pakistan to the UK is a complex issue with various factors at play. Societal turmoil, political instability, and economic inequality contribute to the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants upon arrival. These include geographical risks, financial constraints, legal complexities, and social adjustment difficulties. Despite negative impacts such as resource strain and community conflict, undocumented immigrants fill labor gaps and contribute positively to local economies. Governments must address root causes, reform legal frameworks, protect refugee rights, and promote global collaboration. Tightening border control, combating human trafficking, and funding integration programs are crucial steps. Efforts should focus on dialogue, partnership, and affirming the rights of all individuals regardless of legal status.