Human trafficking and migration control policy: vicious or virtuous cycle?

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between states’ migration control policies and human trafficking in origin, transit and destination states. Using cross-sectional data on states’ visa policies for 192 states and indicators for human trafficking from the Global Patterns report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the paper analyses feedback mechanisms between policies and trafficking. The empirical evidence suggests that, contrary to the pessimistic predictions of policy scholarship, the feedback is characterised by a virtuous mechanism. Firstly, the results show that, in line with expectations of security studies, states tighten visa policies in response to trafficking threats. Origin and transit states face a greater number of restrictions on travel. Similarly, destination states of trafficking impose tighter controls. Secondly, visa restrictions against origin and transit countries mitigate trafficking from and through these states. Finally, the paper demonstrates that the vicious effect whereby stricter policies exacerbate trafficking pertains mostly to destination states’ visa policies and to visas imposed at borders.

The spiralling of the securitisation of migration in the EU: from the management of a ‘crisis’ to a governance of human mobility?

“…In the same Frontex report (FRONTEX 2016), it is evident that the hardening of border policies has not diminished the number of those arriving in Europe through irregular and perilous journeys but has instead increased the market opportunity for smugglers and human traffickers (FRONTEX 2016; Bello 2017a). Situations of this kind have multiplied the numbers of migrants in undocumented or irregular status in several parts of the world (Avdan 2012;Dunn 2009). It has been highlighted that the hardening of border policies and the securitisation of migration concurrently increase the numbers of migrants in detention centres, a fact that is prejudicial because travelling undocumented cannot be considered a crime in itselfeventually only a misdemeanour offense (Lazaridis and Wadia 2015;Bello 2017a).…”

Securitization (Re)Turn: Analysis of the New Brazilian Migration Laws (2016-2019)

“…This more tolerant perspective was, not surprisingly, vetoed by the securitarian view that this would be a loophole for child trafficking. As many authors point out (Ibrahim 2005;Avdan 2012;Piscitelli 2016), the issue of human trafficking has repeatedly been a way of justifying restrictive perspectives on migration laws around the world. In the Brazilian case, this veto is directly related to conservative policies influenced by the evangelical group in Congress and the government.…”

Forced migration, human trafficking, and human security

“…Not all victims of trafficking are (in)voluntary migrants or vice versa. However, interdisciplinary discussions and research on the migration–trafficking nexus clearly indicate the high vulnerability of migrants, especially forced migrants, to trafficking (e.g., Avdan, 2012; Chibba, 2013; Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women, 2010; Joarder and Miller, 2013; Myint, 2008). The United Nations Secretary General, at the Third Global Forum on Migration and Development, urged the world leaders to ‘devote special attention to the most vulnerable migrants of all – the victims of human trafficking, especially women and girls.’ 2…”