Integrated border management and irregular migration at the South European-North African border: The case of Spain

Abstract

Spain has implemented a progressive and comprehensive multi-layered deterrence strategy to control unwanted migration at its borders. This strategy has evolved along three basic lines. Cooperation with African countries (externalization) has been key to fostering fast return procedures, whereas cooperation with the EU (communitarization through joint Frontex operations) has only been complementary to national border control initiatives driven by technological innovation (technologization). An additional aspect analysed in this chapter is the emergence of a humanitarian border in the Spanish case, a scenario in which new forms of civil mobilization in defence of the human rights of migrants have emerged reactively. Particularly at the land borders in Ceuta and Melilla, the highly visible and well-documented border control practices have raised growing concerns and public debate about the violation of fundamental rights, such as non-refoulement and asylum.