Immigrants’ Experiences with Law Enforcement Authorities in Spain

• In Event: 342 - Section on International Migration Paper Session. Social Effects of Immigrant Detention, Removal, and Return

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of this chapter is to explore the lived experiences of immigrants who had contact with law enforcement authorities in the midst of the Great Recession in Spain, the country of the European Union that during the economic boom received the largest flow of immigrants and passed the most progressive legislation in the region. The chapter is divided in four parts. First, I briefly explain contemporary migration trends in Spain and significant changes on immigration policy during the period, as well as the effects of the current economic crisis on opinions about immigrants in Spain. Second, I refer diversity of immigrants in Spain and their diverse modes of arrival. Third, from primary and secondary data sources I describe the experiences of authorized and unauthorized immigrants with law enforcement agents, and the use of internment centers to retain and expel immigrants. Finally, I conclude this chapter with a reflection on the contradiction between the spirit of the Spanish immigrant legislation and law enforcement activities that negatively impact the lived experiences of immigrants.

Author

• Maria Aysa-Lastra, Winthrop University