<p>The aim of this study was to examine how the social services could investigate and support children of irregular immigrants within the boundaries of the law. More specifically it aimed to examine the legal possibilities and obstacles for the social services to support irregular immigrants, how the officials at the social services act considering the legal aspects, and how they reason morally and ethically when dealing with irregular immigrants. To answer the aim of the study the theory of positive law was used combined with qualitative interviews with two officials at the social services. Moreover a small quantitative telephone study with officials in the social services and with voluntary organizations was made. The study has used theories of sociology of law, law and ethics, and professional (civil) disobedience. The conclusions were that children of irregular immigrants are included by the Swedish law for social services, but are hindered from getting support by the legal obligation to inform the police authorities when the social services are dealing with foreigners who did not apply for a residence permit. There is a need for the officials to be extra committed in such cases and they break the obligation to inform to be able to support the children.</p>

The aim of this study was to examine how the social services could investigate and support children of irregular immigrants within the boundaries of the law. More specifically it aimed to examine the legal possibilities and obstacles for the social services to support irregular immigrants, how the officials at the social services act considering the legal aspects, and how they reason morally and ethically when dealing with irregular immigrants. To answer the aim of the study the theory of positive law was used combined with qualitative interviews with two officials at the social services. Moreover a small quantitative telephone study with officials in the social services and with voluntary organizations was made. The study has used theories of sociology of law, law and ethics, and professional (civil) disobedience. The conclusions were that children of irregular immigrants are included by the Swedish law for social services, but are hindered from getting support by the legal obligation to inform the police authorities when the social services are dealing with foreigners who did not apply for a residence permit. There is a need for the officials to be extra committed in such cases and they break the obligation to inform to be able to support the children.

This thesis analyzes the ignored humanitarian concerns in the development of the EU Asylum Policy. As a result of the strict migration control concerns, EU has engaged in forming a new regional refugee protection system which is tacitly based on limiting the access of protection seekers to the EU territories. In that context, the thesis aims to assess the scope and impact of the externalizing tendencies in the EU asylum policy development and thereby aims to attract the attention to the contradiction that EU falls in its human rights and refugee protection commitments while trying to prevent refugees from arriving to the Union&rsquo / s territories. To this aim, after giving a general account of the development of EU Asylum competence, the thesis will extensively deal with the pre-entry and the post-entry access prevention measures which act to serve to this access prevention strategy. Under pre-entry access prevention measures, the thesis will deal with the visa requirement, carrier sanctions and other complementary tools which prevent the protection seekers from ever arriving at the EU territory. Under the post-entry access prevention mechanisms the thesis will analyze the &lsquo / safe third country&rsquo / and &lsquo / host third country&rsquo / implementations and readmission agreements which aim to divert the protections seekers summarily out of the EU territories. In analyzing these policies, the thesis will try to demonstrate how EU Member States try to shirk their non-refoulment obligation, which is the heart of the refugee protection regime, through applying legitimate deemed means.

Cette étude sociologique propose une analyse comparée de l’institution française (l’OFPRA) et allemande (le BAMF) chargées de l’instruction des demandes d’asile. L’enquête de terrain réalisée en leur sein a permis une description détaillée des pratiques administratives encadrant le processus d’élaboration des décisions sur les dossiers de demande. Des différences notables s’observent tant au niveau du profil socioprofessionnel des agents instructeurs de chacune des deux institutions nationales qu’à propos des attitudes générales de ces derniers face à la problématique de l’asile. Au-delà de ces différences, une remise en doute et une profonde méfiance face aux déclarations des demandeurs d’asile constituent une constante dans leur pratique professionnelle. L’importance que l’institution attribue à la question de la crédibilité des récits d’asile confère un pouvoir discrétionnaire significatif aux agents administratifs et laisse une place importante à l’intime conviction dans le processus décisionnel. La délicate communication avec les demandeurs et l’application parfois malaisée des textes de loi nationaux et internationaux aux problématiques présentées par ces derniers imprègnent l’instruction des dossiers d’une grande incertitude. L’analyse de la relation administrative entre demandeurs et décideurs permet finalement d’identifier la méfiance réciproque et le décalage entre les catégories juridiques et la réalité des migrations contemporaines comme deux problèmes centraux des dispositifs d’asile français et allemand. / This sociological study is a comparative analysis of the French (OFPRA) and German (BAMF) institutions in charge of processing asylum claims. Fieldwork on their premises enabled a detailed description of the administrative practices that frame the application-based decision-making process. Notable differences were observed between the two national institutions regarding the socio-professional profiles of the instructing agents but also the latter’s general attitudes towards the asylum issue. Beyond these differences, a constant in their professional practice can be found in an attitude of doubt and deep mistrust towards asylum seekers. In the evaluation of the applicant’s asylum accounts, institutions give great importance to the issue of credibility. This bestows a considerable discretionary power to the administrative agents. It also introduces a strong element of subjectivity in the decision-making process. Because of the delicate nature of communication with the applicants and the sometimes difficult application of national and international legislation to each particular case, the administrative decision-making process is imbued with great uncertainty. The analysis of the administrative relationship between applicants and decision-makers enables to identify the mutual mistrust and the gap between legal categories and the reality of contemporary migration as two central problems in the French and German asylum systems.

The increasing numbers of undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa not only has affected the provision of services provided by the local municipalities and the Department of Home Affairs but is also a huge challenge to the services provided by the South African police. The aim of this study was to explore the police experiences of dealing with undocumented foreign nationals in South Africa. A literature review was conducted to provide an overview of this problem nationally and internationally. Interviews, observations and document analysis were also considered to explore police experiences of dealing with undocumented foreign nationals. The findings of this study show that the South African police are “caught between a rock and a hard place” when dealing with undocumented foreign nationals within the constitutional framework of this country. They receive little support from the government and the relevant stakeholders on this matter, while on the other hand they are exposed to constant threats and lack of compliance from the undocumented foreign nationals and the criminal syndicates that facilitate illegal cross-border movements and the pressure from advocates of human rights principles and the media. These factors lead to increased frustrations among police officials and self-protective measures such as turning a blind eye to this problem. To deal with the problem the Inclusive and Interactive Refugee Management Model, which focuses on constant interaction among stakeholders, is recommended. Inclusive strategies are also recommended for dealing with undocumented foreign nationals. This model supports a Left Realism perspective, which advocates collective responsibility towards human concerns / Police Practice / D. Litt. et Phil. (Police Science)

Background Over one million asylum seekers were registered in Germany in 2016, most from Syria and Afghanistan. The Refugee Convention guarantees access to healthcare, however delivery mechanisms remain heterogeneous. There is an urgent need for more data describing the health conditions of asylum seekers to guide best practices for healthcare delivery. In this study, we describe the state of health of asylum seekers presenting to a multi-specialty primary care refugee clinic. Methods Demographic and medical diagnosis data were extracted from the electronic medical records of patients seen at the ambulatory refugee clinic in Dresden, Germany between 15 September 2015 and 31 December 2016. Data were de-identified and analyzed using Stata version 14.0. Results Two-thousand-seven-hundred and fifty-three individual patients were seen in the clinic. Of these, 2232 (81.1%) were insured by the state indicating arrival within the last 3 months. The median age was 25, interquartile range 16–34. Only 786 (28.6%) were female, while 1967 (71.5%) were male. The most frequent diagnoses were respiratory (17.4%), followed by miscellaneous symptoms and otherwise not classified ailments (R series, 14.1%), infection (10.8%), musculoskeletal or connective tissue (9.3%), gastrointestinal (6.8%), injury (5.9%), and mental or behavioral (5.1%) categories. Conclusions This study illustrates the diverse medical conditions that affect the asylum seeker population. Asylum seekers in our study group did not have a high burden of communicable diseases, however several warranted additional screening and treatment, including for tuberculosis and scabies. Respiratory illnesses were more common amongst newly arrived refugees. Trauma-related mental health disorders comprised half of mental health diagnoses.

Syftet med studien är att ta reda på de bidragande faktorerna för etableringen av afghanska ensamkommande barn i det svenska samhället och därmed bidra till kunskapsutveckling om målgruppens behov hos yrkespersoner som kommer i kontakt med dessa barn. En kvalitativ metod har applicerats på studien. Studiens frågeställningar har besvarats med semistrukturerade intervjuer av åtta etablerade respondenter som har kommit som ensamkommande barn till Sverige. Utifrån tidigare forskning som handlar om ensamkommande barn och de tre teorierna systemteori, KASAM och Bourdieus fyra kapitalformer, har studiens material analyserats. Studien visar att myndigheternas insatser och stöd har varit uppskattade och betydelsefulla hos ensamkommande barn i deras etableringsprocess. Det framkommer att en kombination av flera yrkespersoners stöd och insatser, exempelvis av socialsekreterare, lärare, boendepersonal, vuxna volontärer, vänner, god man och kontaktperson, har spelat stor roll i ungdomarnas etablering. Studien visar därtill att några centrala faktorer såsom uppehållstillstånd, skapande av sociala nätverk, språkkunskap och yrkespersoners genuina intresse och engagemang att stötta dessa ungdomar, har varit avgörande för dessa ensamkommande barn att komma in i det svenska samhället. Det visas tydligt i studien att ungdomarnas egna ambitioner, drivkrafter, styrka, strategier, vilja och att målmedvetenhet har varit väsentliga i deras etablering. / The purpose of this study is to identify the contributing factors for the establishment of afghan unaccompanied children in Swedish society and thereby contribute to increasing knowledge among professionals who come into contact with this group. A qualitative method has been applied in the study and eight established participants who arrived as unaccompanied children to Sweden have been interviewed through semi-structured interviews. The results have been analysed based on some previous national and international researches on unaccompanied children and also on three theories: system theory, KASAM and Bourdeius' four forms of capital. The study shows that the efforts and support of the authorities have been significant and appreciated by unaccompanied minors in their establishment process. The study also declares that the participation of several professionals, for instance social workers, teachers, housing staff, volunteering adults, friends, gaurdian and contact person have played a major role in the young people’s establishment. Furthermore, the study shows that some central factors such as a residence permit, to have social networks, knowledge of the Swedish language and the extra support from the people involved have been essential for getting into the Swedish society. It is clearly shown in the study that the young peoples’ own ambitions, self motivation, struggles, own strategies, and being purposeful have been essential in their establishment.

Ce mémoire fait état des impacts du renforcement frontalier sur les enfants demandeurs d’asile au Canada. Nous effectuons une analyse critique du renforcement frontalier qui s’opère au Canada, en procédant à une étude de cas portant sur le centre de surveillance de l’immigration de Laval, où des centaines de demandeurs d’asile mineurs y sont détenus chaque année avec leurs familles. La détention s’inscrit dans une logique sécuritaire à la fois administrative et répressive, car elle est le fruit d’une association croissante entre migration et criminalité, ce qui a pour conséquence l’augmentation globale du nombre de migrants en détention, y compris d’enfants. Nous soutenons que l’Agence des services frontaliers du Canada se déresponsabilise de l’emprisonnement des enfants demandeurs d’asile, et ce, en donnant la possibilité aux parents en détention de laisser leurs enfants aux mains d’organisme tiers, tel que la Direction de la protection de la jeunesse. À travers cette recherche, nous nous concentrons sur diverses stratégies, qui ont pour objectif de sceller les frontières canadiennes contre l’arrivée de potentielles menaces, grâce à la combinaison de mesures défensives et préventives qui complexifient le parcours de ces personnes vulnérables. Grâce aux données récoltées provenant de 14 entretiens semi-dirigés avec des acteurs travaillant dans le domaine de la migration, nous cherchons à intégrer un éventail d’expériences et de perceptions sur la détention d’enfants demandeurs d’asile au Canada. En utilisant une démarche multiscalaire, nous mettons en évidence l’importance d’explorer les mobilités humaines à plusieurs niveaux et de développer une compréhension de l’interdépendance des régimes d’immigration à l’échelle globale, nationale, provinciale et locale. Cette recherche fournit une compréhension des pratiques spatiales des institutions gouvernementales face à l’arrivée irrégulière de familles demandeuses d’asile et de leur placement en détention. Nous traitons des impacts, sur les migrants mineurs, de l’externalisation des frontières, de la sécurisation et de la détention, qui ont pour objectif d’éloigner tout migrant indésirable des frontières physiques du pays. Ces stratégies empêchent des enfants d’accéder à des protections spécifiques et démontrent comment les politiques frontalières et les logiques sécuritaires prévalent sur les droits de l’homme, témoignant d’un régime frontalier restrictif et punitif envers certains types de migrants. Bien que, selon le droit international et national, les enfants demandeurs d’asile doivent être considérés comme des enfants en premier lieu, dans la pratique, ils sont de plus en plus traités comme des migrants devant être tenus à l’écart. / This research examines the impacts of border enforcement on child asylum seekers in Canada. We critically analyze border enforcement in Canada through a case study of the Laval Immigration Holding Centre, where hundreds of minor asylum seekers are detained each year with their families. Detention is part of a security logic that is both administrative and repressive, as it is the result of a growing association between migration and criminality. This has resulted in an overall increase in the number of migrants in detention, including children. We argue that the Canada Border Services Agency is avoiding responsibility for the imprisonment of child asylum seekers by allowing parents in detention to leave their children in the hands of third-party agencies, such as the Director of Youth Protection. Through this research, we focus on various strategies that aim to seal Canadian borders against the arrival of potential threats through a combination of defensive and preventive measures that complicate the journey of these vulnerable individuals. Through data collected from 14 semi-structured interviews with actors working in the field of migration, we seek to integrate a range of experiences and perceptions about the detention of child asylum seekers in Canada. Using a multi-scalar approach, we highlight the importance of exploring human mobility at multiple levels and developing an understanding of the interdependence of immigration regimes at global, national, provincial and local levels. This research provides an understanding of the spatial practices of government institutions in dealing with the irregular arrival of asylum-seeking families and their detention. We address the impacts of border outsourcing, securitization, and detention on underage migrants, which aim at removing unwanted migrants from the country's physical borders. These strategies prevent children from accessing specific protection and demonstrate how border policies and security logics prevail over human rights, reflecting a restrictive and punitive border regime towards certain types of migrants. Although, according to international and national law, child asylum seekers should be considered as children first, in practice they are increasingly treated as migrants who should be kept apart.

Thesis explores the ways in which Information and Communication Technology (ICT)use, specifically that of telephones and the Internet, impacts the lives of Eritrean refugees in Rome, Italy. Informal interviews, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation were carried out in a 'center of second reception.' Results show that information obtained through the use of ICT acts on the imaginations of refugees, encouraging or discouraging movement to alternative locations. ICT use can help maintain a sense of emotional "closeness" to family members abroad for some, but not for others. Limitations in access to ICT exist for the refugees and their families in Eritrea that crosscut multiple socio-demographic categories. Finally, surveillance, enacted through ICT use, negotiates power between the Eritrean state and its subjects in the diaspora. / Graduation date: 2012

The submitted diploma thesis is focused on the refugee phenomenon and its classification among international migration issues as such, while the interest is focused mainly on immigration from third-world countries into European Union, accenting the Czech Republic. In this context, causes of growing tendency in international protection applicant and economic migrant numbers, but also responses caused by this fact, are being discussed. To enable a closer look at the multi-ethnic co-habitation character, there is secondary empirical data outlining the current situation of the majority´s relationship towards the ethnic and national plurality with regard to migration crisis given on the one hand, and determinants influencing the creation of different citizen attitudes on the other hand. Last but not least, there is some space left for chosen interactive education methods and didactic material based on them, which is useful when teaching about the controversial refugee issue in lessons of Civics.