Immigration Raids and State Violence

Bhatia, Monish; Burnett, Jon

Abstract

This article develops an analysis of contemporary immigration raids in Britain, arguing that they operate ideologically as well as institutionally to sustain the material and political conditions of what is a vastly unequal form of social order. It suggests that immigration raids are located within and develop understandings of a racial state in contemporary Britain. Drawing on ethnographic work at a migrant charity organization, it explains the raid process and its impact on individuals and families. Raids are rationalised as facilitating removal and more broadly operate as part of attempts to generate fear and encourage people to leave “voluntarily.” However, this article suggests that the real purpose of raids is to dominate and oppress illegalised migrants and those who may be vulnerable to immigration control, as well as reproducing the justification for immigration enforcement itself. Raids inflict harms and are utilised to try sever solidarities between communities. However, enforcement leads to resistance and the conclusion reflects on resistance to raids and the solidarities such resistance ferments and sustains.

Citation

Bhatia, M., & Burnett, J. (2022). Immigration Raids and State Violence. State Crime Journal, 11(1), 33-51. https://doi.org/10.13169/statecrime.11.1.0033

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 1, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Jun 18, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 18, 2022
• Deposit Date: Apr 5, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 14, 2023
• Journal: State Crime Journal
• Print ISSN: 2046-6056
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 33-51
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13169/statecrime.11.1.0033
• Keywords: Home Office; hostile environment; ICE; immigration enforcement; migrants; racist violence; raids; statecraft
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4075902
• Publisher URL: https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.13169/statecrime.11.1.0033