The construction of the other and illegal immigration in Spain

Abstract

Irregular migratory flows from North Africa to Europe, specifically of Moroccan citizens to Spain, began in the 1990s due to Spain’s geographical proximity and the introduction of a visa requirement to enter the country in 1991. This phenomenon was characterised by the issue of patera boats and recurring tragedies in the Strait of Gibraltar, which caused (and still causes) a lot of controversy and changes in the Spanish society. This paper deals with the construction of Moroc- can immigrants, especially illegal ones, and its relationship with the idea of Moors in the Spanish imaginary, as well as the depiction of clandestine immigration in Spain.

Keywords

• illegal immigrants; stereotypes; crossing; perception; immigration