easa

Dear all,

We hope this message finds you well.

There are still three days left to send paper proposal for our panel at =
the 9th Congress =
of the Portuguese =
Anthropological Association (APA), which will be held in hybrid form =
(f2f&on-line) at the Instituto Polit=C3=A9cnico =
of the wonderful =
town of Viana do Castelo, in the North of Portugal, 16=E2=80=9318 July =
2025.
=20
Illegal(ized) Migrants in Portugal: =46rom a =E2=80=9CTrampoline=E2=80=9D =
to a =E2=80=9CTrap=E2=80=9D?=20

=20
Organizers:
Gianmarco Marzola, Social Sciences Institute - University of =
Lisbon, Portugal; University of Padua, Italy
Emilio Massimo Caja, Social Sciences Institute - University of =
Lisbon, Portugal

Discussant:
Francesca Esposito, Department of Psychology "Renzo =
Canestrari=E2=80=9D, University of Bologna, Italy

=20
Abstract:=20
Portugal has long been internationally regarded as a hospitable =
destination for migrants. Scholars describe it as a =E2=80=9Ctrampoline=E2=
=80=9D in the migration trajectories of individuals from Africa, Latin =
America, and Asia (Vigh 2016). Portugal=E2=80=99s relatively accessible =
pathways to legal residence historically distinguished it from other =
Western European countries. Yet, for many, Portugal is a transitional =
stop=E2=80=94a stepping-stone to wealthier European nations or a base =
for circular mobility across Europe. Is Portugal=E2=80=99s role in the =
European migration landscape shifting?
While Portuguese governments often promote narratives of =
=E2=80=9Cgoodwill=E2=80=9D and =E2=80=9Copenness,=E2=80=9D such =
discourses obscure systemic violence, detention, and deportation =
(Vacchiano, 2019). The killing of Ihor Homeniuk in 2020 at the Lisbon =
airport detention centre starkly exposed state violence against =
migrants. Following this incident, the Servi=C3=A7o de Estrangeiros e =
Fronteiras (SEF), held responsible for his death, was dismantled. =
Administrative duties were transferred to the Ag=C3=AAncia para a =
Integra=C3=A7=C3=A3o, Migra=C3=A7=C3=B5es e Asilo (AIMA), and =
enforcement powers to the police. Further, the 2024 immigration law =
restricts regularisation pathways for undocumented migrants. Do these =
measures signal a deeper shift in Portuguese migration policy?
In recent years, migrants have reported delays of over two years =
for regularisation and frequent denial of access to healthcare and =
public services. Despite this, many continue to choose Portugal, =
perceiving it as more accessible than other European destinations. =
However, with these restrictive changes, is Portugal transforming from a =
=E2=80=9Ctrampoline=E2=80=9D to a =E2=80=9Ctrap=E2=80=9D? This panel =
aims to explore how recent policy shifts challenge dominant narratives =
of Portugal as an open and hospitable nation, questioning their impact =
on migrants=E2=80=99 lived realities and broader European mobility =
patterns.

We invite contributions on and beyond the following themes and topics:

=E2=80=A2 Portuguese border and asylum regimes
=E2=80=A2 Accounts of migrants=E2=80=99 experiences of =
Portuguese shifting migration policies
=E2=80=A2 Portuguese detention and deportation systems
=E2=80=A2 The abolition of SEF and its subsequent developments
=E2=80=A2 Circular mobilities of migrants across Portugal and =
beyond
=E2=80=A2 Violence against immigrants in Portugal
=20
References:
Vacchiano, F. (2019) =E2=80=9CCamouflaging borders: relocation, =
neglect and disciplines of emplacement in Portugal.=E2=80=9D =
International Journal of Migration and Border Studies, 5(4): 273-291.
Vigh, H. (2016). Life=E2=80=99s trampoline: On nullification and =
cocaine migration in Bissau. Affective Circuits: African Migrations to =
Europe and the Pursuit of Social Regeneration, 223-44.


Accepted languages: English / Espa=C3=B1ol / Portugu=C3=AAs

The call closes on January 13th

Please, circulate to anyone who might be interested.


Tu submit your paper: click HERE =

More details: consult APA=C2=A0website =
or contact us by email:
gmarzola@edu.ulisboa.pt
emiliomassimo.caja@gmail.com


Best regards,

=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=80=94=E2=
=80=94
Gianmarco Marzola

PhD Candidate - Anthropology
Instituto de Ci=C3=AAncias Sociais
Universidade de Lisboa=