Disturbing Intimacies: The Pathopolitical Governance of Mixed-Status Families in Times of Return
In Denmark, many illegalised migrants are subjected to open-ended detention at ‘departure centres.’ Based on qualitative data collected during 2017–2022, this article examines instances where detention leads to the separation of mixed-immigration status families. Drawing on concepts of deportability...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Helsinki University Press
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Nordic Journal of Migration Research |
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| Online Access: | https://account.journal-njmr.org/index.php/uh-j-njmr/article/view/587 |
| _version_ | 1797353481706668032 |
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| author | Katrine Syppli Kohl |
| author_facet | Katrine Syppli Kohl |
| author_sort | Katrine Syppli Kohl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In Denmark, many illegalised migrants are subjected to open-ended detention at ‘departure centres.’ Based on qualitative data collected during 2017–2022, this article examines instances where detention leads to the separation of mixed-immigration status families. Drawing on concepts of deportability, detainability and in/visibility, the article argues that departure centres constitute a border spectacle that simultaneously renders people hyper-visible as ‘illegal,’ unattached individuals about to depart and invisibilises them as parents and spouses. The analysis shows that detention in departure centres disturbs rather than interrupts intimate relations, and enables mixed-status families to resist separation through tactics of travelling on, moving nearby, or commuting. These tactics produced by the return system increase the vulnerability of illegalised migrants and amplify the pain of deportability. In this paper, I propose the term ‘pathopolitics’ to enable the description and analysis of the power directed at illegalised refugees and migrants in and beyond Denmark. I argue that the practise of separating families should be understood as one of several pathopolitical power techniques used to induce return. This practise works through temporal and spatial measures and inflicts high human costs on illegalised migrants and their families. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:31:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-958fdd16d3c14766b91ea9920af49ac8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1799-649X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:31:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Helsinki University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nordic Journal of Migration Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-958fdd16d3c14766b91ea9920af49ac82024-01-17T08:11:13ZengHelsinki University PressNordic Journal of Migration Research1799-649X2023-12-011344410.33134/njmr.58766Disturbing Intimacies: The Pathopolitical Governance of Mixed-Status Families in Times of ReturnKatrine Syppli Kohl0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6405-4484AMIS - the Centre for Advanced Migration Studies, The Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, CopenhagenIn Denmark, many illegalised migrants are subjected to open-ended detention at ‘departure centres.’ Based on qualitative data collected during 2017–2022, this article examines instances where detention leads to the separation of mixed-immigration status families. Drawing on concepts of deportability, detainability and in/visibility, the article argues that departure centres constitute a border spectacle that simultaneously renders people hyper-visible as ‘illegal,’ unattached individuals about to depart and invisibilises them as parents and spouses. The analysis shows that detention in departure centres disturbs rather than interrupts intimate relations, and enables mixed-status families to resist separation through tactics of travelling on, moving nearby, or commuting. These tactics produced by the return system increase the vulnerability of illegalised migrants and amplify the pain of deportability. In this paper, I propose the term ‘pathopolitics’ to enable the description and analysis of the power directed at illegalised refugees and migrants in and beyond Denmark. I argue that the practise of separating families should be understood as one of several pathopolitical power techniques used to induce return. This practise works through temporal and spatial measures and inflicts high human costs on illegalised migrants and their families.https://account.journal-njmr.org/index.php/uh-j-njmr/article/view/587in/visibilitydeportabilitypathopoliticsrefugeesimmigrant detentionfamily life |
| spellingShingle | Katrine Syppli Kohl Disturbing Intimacies: The Pathopolitical Governance of Mixed-Status Families in Times of Return Nordic Journal of Migration Research in/visibility deportability pathopolitics refugees immigrant detention family life |
| title | Disturbing Intimacies: The Pathopolitical Governance of Mixed-Status Families in Times of Return |
| title_full | Disturbing Intimacies: The Pathopolitical Governance of Mixed-Status Families in Times of Return |
| title_fullStr | Disturbing Intimacies: The Pathopolitical Governance of Mixed-Status Families in Times of Return |
| title_full_unstemmed | Disturbing Intimacies: The Pathopolitical Governance of Mixed-Status Families in Times of Return |
| title_short | Disturbing Intimacies: The Pathopolitical Governance of Mixed-Status Families in Times of Return |
| title_sort | disturbing intimacies the pathopolitical governance of mixed status families in times of return |
| topic | in/visibility deportability pathopolitics refugees immigrant detention family life |
| url | https://account.journal-njmr.org/index.php/uh-j-njmr/article/view/587 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT katrinesypplikohl disturbingintimaciesthepathopoliticalgovernanceofmixedstatusfamiliesintimesofreturn |