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Irregular migration is prominent, if not foremost, in much contemporary public debate and policy thinking around migration. The International Organization for Migration estimates that irregular immigrants account for one-third to one-half of new entrants into developed countries, marking an increase of 20 per cent over the past ten years. It has been suggested that this might amount to some 500,000 irregular migrants in the European Union.
As a conceptual or legal category, irregular migration includes a variety of kinds of movement and status in conflict with migration laws in migrant-transit and migrant-receiving countries. Irregularity is said to refer to, among other things, illegal entry, overstaying visas, remaining as a rejected asylum-seeker, engaging in prohibited work, and being sans papiers or undocumented. Yet the boundaries of regular and irregular migration have not always been clear; indeed, research shows that in a single journey or process of migration, a migrant might enter into and out of regularity and irregularity.
The issues surrounding irregular migration are numerous, complex and variably problematic. For social scientists, the topic raises questions about ethical methods and the acquisition or adequacy of data on underground populations. For policy makers policy matters involve topics such as tackling criminal trafficking networks, tightening border controls, the use of biometrics and identity cards, employer sanctions, removals and regularization programmes. For service providers and other practitioners, the presence and needs of irregular migrants concern the provision of housing, the use of health and social services, effects on wages and the labour market, the growth and dynamics of the informal economy, and a range of question regarding social integration.

This year’s COMPAS Annual International Conference will bring together a range of leading academics, policy makers and practitioners to explore and debate together the nature, dynamics and challenges of irregular migration. It promises to be a most topical and relevant event.
There is no registration charge for this event but numbers are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

ESRC Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS)
University of Oxford, 58 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6QS
Tel.: +44 (0) 1865 274566 Fax.: +44 (0) 1865 274718
Email: info@compas.ox.ac.uk