Key facts
- Europe's migration debate has shifted, forcing migrant-rights groups to rethink their strategies.
- Political leaders across the spectrum are increasingly calling for stronger borders and deterrence.
- Migrant-rights organizations are turning to legal challenges and broader alliances.
- The rise of far-right parties has contributed to a more restrictive approach to migration.
- Groups are seeking to change public perception by highlighting unauthorized migrants already living in Europe.
The political response to the recent migrant surge into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta has highlighted a significant shift in Europe's migration discourse, prompting migrant-rights organizations to re-evaluate their advocacy strategies. Previously, European leaders were often divided on migration, with some advocating for solidarity and others for stricter controls. However, the response to the Ceuta crisis, which saw over 100 migrant deaths, was notably unified, with politicians across the political spectrum calling for enhanced border security and deterrence measures.
Michele LeVoy, director of the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants, noted that the language surrounding migration has changed, even in center-left countries. This evolving political climate is forcing rights groups to adapt. As humanitarian appeals become less politically effective, organizations are increasingly focusing on legal challenges, forming broader alliances with other civil society groups and lawyers, and exploring new ways to frame the migration debate. They aim to demonstrate that restrictive policies negatively impact society as a whole, not just migrants.
This shift contrasts with earlier responses to migration crises. In 2013, following a deadly shipwreck off Lampedusa, EU officials expressed a commitment to preventing further deaths and called for a more open and solidarity-based approach. Similarly, the 2015 refugee crisis initially saw a humanitarian reaction, exemplified by German Chancellor Angela Merkel's welcoming stance. However, resistance from figures like Hungary's Viktor Orbán and Poland's Law and Justice party led to an "institutional deadlock" and a broader move towards more restrictive, control-oriented policies, according to Florian Trauner, an expert on EU migration.
The current trend is evident in the EU's reaction to Ceuta, where centrist leaders echoed hard-line calls for border defense. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized border control, celebrating the fact that no migrants reached mainland Spain, without directly addressing the death toll. The rise of far-right parties has accelerated this trend, with centrist parties adopting elements of their agenda to neutralize their influence. Estrella Galán, a European Parliament lawmaker, observed that the "buffer zone" between the democratic right and the far-right has diminished, pushing far-right groups to advocate for more extreme measures like "remigration."
Experts like Trauner suggest that the Trump administration's approach to migration, including large-scale deportations, has provided a benchmark for European actors seeking to deflect criticism. Migrant-rights advocates, such as Helena Maleno of Caminando Fronteras, report increased targeting and dehumanization, particularly of Muslim migrants, leading to a need for enhanced security measures against digital and physical threats. Conversely, far-right politicians, like Spain's Vox party lawmaker Jorge Buxadé, argue that migrant-rights NGOs remain influential and are funded to ensure "massive and uncontrolled" immigration.
In this new environment, the traditional humanitarian arguments used by rights groups are losing political traction. NGOs find themselves defending against sanctions and restrictions rather than shaping the debate. Consequently, they are shifting their focus to legal battles against restrictive legislation and seeking partnerships with entities like conservative employers' associations and the Catholic Church, as seen in Spain. LeVoy advocates for changing the narrative by focusing on the large population of unauthorized migrants already living in Europe, drawing parallels to successful marriage equality campaigns that humanized LGBTQ+ individuals by presenting them as friends and neighbors.