The Changing archipelago of Detention and Containment at Spain's Southern Border

• In Event: The New EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and Immigration Enforcement Changes in Europe (I)

Abstract

Since 2018, there has been an increase in the arrivals of migrants and asylum seekers to the Southern Border of Spain (and Europe) via the Canary Islands. These migration flows have turned this geographical location into a crucial and complex piece of Spain's detention archipelago, marked by the proliferation of various reception and containment infrastructures. These facilities are characterized by their unstable, volatile, and multifaceted nature.
Drawing upon the analysis of policies, norms, existing data, and fieldwork conducted in the Canary Islands between 2020 and 2021, this presentation aims to illustrate the evolving landscape of the detention and containment archipelago at the Southwestern EU borders. Additionally, it will explore potential developments in light of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Authors

• Ana Ballesteros-Pena, Complutense University of Madrid

• Cristina Fernández-Bessa, University of A Coruna