Voluntary Return as Forced Mobility: Humanitarianism and the Securitization of Romani Migrants in Spain

Abstract

This chapter questions and reflects on the social programmes offered to Romani migrants and on the practices of social workers which ultimately push their clients to accept the offer of ‘voluntary return’ and leave Spain. Exercised under the security-development nexus, this technique of governance combines charity and welfare programmes with persistent surveillance and punishment mechanisms enacted against Romani migrants. When the inclusion programmes turn out to be unsuccessful, the State permits exceptional practices to coerce Romani migrants to opt for repatriation. In order to ground their ‘exceptional’ actions of control, oppression, and punishment, social workers endorse mechanisms of securitization against ‘failed’ subjects of integration. This chapter argues that it is in fact humanitarianism that permits the construction of social projects aiming at ‘voluntary’ repatriation for this unwanted category of welfare beneficiaries.