The Political Economy of Immigration Detention: Globalization, National Diversity, and Economic Actors

• In Event: 549 - Section on International Migration Refereed Roundtable Session and Business Meeting
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 15. Crimmigration

Abstract

Political economy offers unique tools and perspectives for analyzing the growth of immigration detention across the world. The perspective highlights changing economic structures, the winners and losers of policy changes, coalition formation affecting political decisions. This literature review of the political economy of detention considers the driving forces and actors of immigration detention at three different levels: at the global level, trade and financial liberalization is associated with increased efforts to segment labor markets nationally that results in increasing labor precarity in the developed and underdeveloped world; at the national level, diversity in economic systems and political institutions shape aspects of crimmigration and privatization of detention facilities; and lastly, at an actor perspective, the immigration detention complex involves the complex web of corporate actors and bureaucratic interests driving detention policies. The paper concludes by highlighting the gaps in current research.

Author

• Matthew B. Flynn, Georgia Southern University