Enduring Uncertainty: Deportation, Punishment and Everyday Life

The book offers a unique ethnography of deportation and deportability in England and Wales, providing insights into due process, migrant surveillance, social relations, and human rights.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2022
Publisher: Berghahn Books

Immigration policy and processes have a profound impact on the lives of individuals, and this volume offers a unique and innovative ethnography of deportation and deportability experienced by migrants convicted of criminal offenses in England and Wales. The author presents a rich and diverse range of perspectives on due process in immigration appeals, migrant surveillance and control, social relations and sense of self, and compliance and resistance, which are essential for broader understandings of border control policy and human rights.

One of the key themes of the book is the impact of deportation on individuals' lives. The author highlights the emotional and psychological toll that deportation can take on migrants, including feelings of fear, anxiety, and despair. Deportation can also have a significant impact on families, as it can lead to separation and loss. The author argues that deportation is not just a legal process but also a social and political one, and that it is often used to control and marginalize certain groups of people.

The author's ethnography of deportation and deportability is based on extensive fieldwork in various locations in England and Wales. She interviews migrants, their families, and immigration officials, and observes their interactions and experiences. The author's approach is sensitive and empathetic, and she provides a detailed and nuanced account of the deportation process.

One of the most interesting aspects of the book is the author's analysis of due process in immigration appeals. The author argues that due process is essential for ensuring that migrants are treated fairly and that their rights are protected. However, she notes that due process is often denied to migrants, particularly those who are detained or facing deportation. The author provides several examples of cases where migrants have been denied due process, and she argues that this is a major contributor to the high rate of deportations in England and Wales.

Migrant surveillance and control is another important theme of the book. The author highlights the various methods used by immigration officials to monitor and control migrants, including surveillance cameras, fingerprinting, and DNA testing. The author argues that these methods are often invasive and discriminatory, and that they can have a negative impact on migrants' sense of self and their ability to integrate into society.

Social relations and sense of self are also important themes of the book. The author highlights the ways in which migrants' social relations are affected by deportation, including the loss of friends and family, the difficulty of finding employment, and the stigma associated with being a migrant. The author argues that these social relations are essential for migrants' well-being and that they should be protected.

Compliance and resistance are also important themes of the book. The author highlights the ways in which migrants resist deportation, including through legal means, such as appealing deportation orders, and through non-legal means, such as protesting and organizing. The author argues that compliance and resistance are essential for challenging the power of the state and for promoting social justice.

In conclusion, this volume provides fascinating insights into the deportation process as it is felt and understood by those subjected to it. The author's ethnography of deportation and deportability is based on extensive fieldwork in various locations in England and Wales, and it provides a detailed and nuanced account of the deportation process. The book's key themes include the impact of deportation on individuals' lives, due process in immigration appeals, migrant surveillance and control, social relations and sense of self, and compliance and resistance. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in border control policy and human rights.

ISBN-13: 9781800737334