Criminalisation

Criminal law and other approaches based on sanctions are often used to punish migrants and those who provide them with assistance, and to address phenomena like smuggling, trafficking, and sex work.

This leads to more, not less, harm and suffering. We call for systems that support people instead.

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Children, Families and Youth Detention and Deportations Digital Technologies Gender Equality Health Housing and Anti-Poverty Justice and Policing Regularisation Work

Interactive Storyboard

The EU is collecting millions of data of third country nationals in large-scale database that are being connected to step up deportations. Check our interactive storyboard to learn what this means for people in real life.

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Related publications

Read our publications to learn about how migration policies shape our societies and the lives of undocumented people, and how they can be improved.

2024

Criminalisation

How the New EU Facilitation Directive Furthers the Criminalisation of Migrants and Human Rights Defenders

2024

Criminalisation

Between administrative and criminal law: An overview of criminalisation of migration across the EU

2024

Criminalisation

Cases of criminalisation of migration and solidarity in the EU in 2023

2024

Criminalisation

PICUM’s inputs to the European Commission consultation on the Facilitation Directive

2023

Criminalisation

More than 100 people criminalised for acting in solidarity with migrants in the EU in 2022

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Related blogs

Read our blogs to learn about laws, policies and issues that affect undocumented people.

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09.04.24 At least 117 people criminalised for helping migrants in Europe in 2023 Read more

13.02.24 Over 40 organisations call on the Cypriot authorities to take action to stop the escalating harassment and attacks against KISA and protect civic space in Cyprus 08.03.23 Over 100 people criminalised for helping migrants in the EU in 2022 18.07.22 Migrant smuggling: why we need a paradigm shift

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