The Effects of Externalization and Securitization of EU Borders on Migration Precarity by: Rachel Hierholzer
Migration to the European Union (EU) is an ongoing issue to international relations that has drastically changed in recent years. Migrants are coming to the EU to flee crises in their country of origin, such as poverty, political conflict, war, or climate induced displacement. COVID-19 has only exacerbated the push factors for migrants from North Africa and the Middle East to attempt to enter the EU through the Mediterranean. Due to the enforcement of stricter immigration policies, migrants are increasingly seeking out irregular routes into the EU. Frontex measured that there was a 64% increase in irregular migration from January to August of 2021. There THE OBSERVER
are many issues present in the EU’s border migration policies, all of which have been exacerbated by COVID-19. However, the pandemic also provides an opportunity for reform and could be a positive catalyst for change. Over the past few years, the EU has greatly focused on increasing its border security. This increased securitization is evident with Frontex, a European border security regime that seeks to manage and surveil the external borders of the EU and prioritizes citizens and European values. Part of Frontex’s mission is implementing surveillance technology, XVIII.3
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