New 2025 data reveals continued non-assistance and a surge in pushbacks!

242 cases of distress in 01-06/2025. Maltese authorities continued to deny assistance to people whose lives were at risk, only rescuing two of these boats.

+ Surge in illegal pushbacks from Malta’s SAR zone to Libya!

Around the world, migrants are being deported at alarming rates – how did this become normalised? The US, UK and Australia are all expanding efforts to deport non-citizens, reframing the act of seeking asylum from a human right to a criminal act.

Drawing on research from our @ukri.org FLF project, Andonea Dickson, Thom Tyerman and I wrote in @theconversation.com about expanding detention and deportation regimes and their relationship to authoritarianism.

Check it out:

theconversation.com/around-the-w...

Several barriers impact solidarity work on migration in Malta, including the geography of the islands, socio-political environment and maritime imaginaries. But activism is still very much alive. From @mauricestierl.bsky.social and @cettamainwaring.bsky.social ⤵️

blogs.law.ox.ac.uk/border-crimi...

Last week, we launched the Malta Migration Archive, where we document and condemn border violence at sea and on land.

Check out @maltamigrationarchive.org here: maltamigrationarchive.org

With special thanks to all our collaborators!

Islands of Solidarity?

New article out with @MauriceStierl in #Geopolitics!

In it, we explore how actors in #Malta navigate the politically contentious issue of migration & how solidarity is conditioned by island geographies, maritime imaginaries & more!

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Islands of Solidarity? Migration and Activism in Malta How does geography shape possibilities for migration-related activism and advocacy? In this article, we investigate this question through a case study of the Maltese Islands. Though located on the ...

In a new article @geopoliticsjournal.bsky.social @cettamainwaring.bsky.social and IMIS & #SFB1604 member @mauricestierl.bsky.social explore how actors in #Malta navigate the politically contentious issue of #migration.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

#MigrationStudies #borders #Mediterranean

Islands of Solidarity? Migration and Activism in Malta How does geography shape possibilities for migration-related activism and advocacy? In this article, we investigate this question through a case study of the Maltese Islands. Though located on the ...

Islands of Solidarity? Migration and Activism in Malta

Glad that this new article is out now in @geopoliticsjournal.bsky.social! In it, @cettamainwaring.bsky.social and I explore how actors in #Malta navigate the politically contentious issue of (sea) migration.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Trump’s extremist border policies are part of a global authoritarian moment Successive government in the US, the UK and Australia have embraced and exchanged brutal migration policies for years.

It's been a privilege to research immigration detention with the brilliant Andi Dickson & Thom Tyerman this last year.

Here, in @ajenglish.bsky.social, we reflect on how the extreme migration policies Trump is adopting are not unique to him nor to the US.

www.aljazeera.com/opinions/202...

Thanks David! Great list. Could you add me too please?

Private contractors in US eye windfall from Trump’s push to deport migrants Trump’s pledge to pursue ‘mass deportation’ is likely to increase demand for detention facilities and surveillance.

Geo Group is one of the biggest private prison & detention contractors in the world. Its stock price has surged 73% in the weeks since Trump was elected.

Profits made from violence and fear.

Great comments here by @petramolnar.com & @austinkocher.bsky.social

www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11...

📢 Applications are now open for our Masters’ Dissertation/Thesis Prize 2024! We welcome all dissertations on migration, citizenship, or border controls. Winners will receive up to £200 in Routledge books and the opportunity to feature on our blog. More info: www.law.ox.ac.uk/content/news...

Working on critical border studies starter pack for @acbsnetwork.bsky.social
go.bsky.app/TxsUGAN

How do you face fascism? I like Orwell's version: ground yourself in direct and immediate experience, trust your senses, find some joy, turn back to face the fascists and tell truths to combat the lies.

Love, rage, tears, and solidarity from Edinburgh to Palestine. ✊🏻