Controlling irregular migration in the Kingdom of Spain

Abstract

This paper follows on the argument that the success of policies combating irregular migration depends on the combination of external fencing activities with the internal fencing and external and internal gate-keeping policies adopted by a country. This paper reviews the main gate-keeping policies adopted by Spain with a view to highlighting whether and how they achieve their intended effects. It also reviews the success of migration control implemented by Spain, one of the Mediterranean borders of the EU, which has been disproportionately affected by irregular crossings at its' land and sea borders compared with other major EU immigrant destinations, which are geographically situated much farther from migration source and transit countries.

Keywords

• irregular migration
• assisted voluntary return
• forced return
• border management
• capacity building
• cooperation