Mixed fragmented migrations of Iraqis and challenges to Iraqi refugee integration: the Jordanian experience

ABSTRACT

This article focuses on Iraqis in Jordan who intend to migrate further. It is maintained that the distinction between forced and voluntary migrations and the formal labels used to categorize migrants do not express the complexity of movements within and from the region. It is argued that movements out of Iraq and into Jordan, and further migrations to the West, are underpinned by more than one reason though triggered by force or violence. Indeed, the reasons urging movements of Iraqis in our study took different turns as people got to particular places and faced the context of reception there. We have identified challenges to Iraqi refugee integration and related them to the variety of intended and unintended fragmented movements that go together with multiple changes in formal migrant statuses. The article thus contributes to discussions on mixed migrations and fragmented migrations in the region and portrays the agency of Iraqis in migrating amidst the structural factor of force. The article also provides valuable contributions to discussions on fragmented journeys of would-be asylum seekers in the West.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

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9. M. Collyer, ‘Stranded Migrants and the Fragmented Journey’, Journal of Refugee Studies, Vol.23, No.3 (2010), pp.273–93.

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11. Collyer, ‘Stranded Migrants and the Fragmented Journey’.

12. N. Van Hear, R. Brubaker and T. Bessa, ‘Managing Mobility for Human Development: The Growing Salience of Mixed Migration’ (United Nations Development Programme: Human Development Reports. Research Paper 2009/20. Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), University of Oxford, 2009).

13. J. Van der Klaauw, ‘Refugee Rights in Times of Mixed Migration: Evolving Status and Protection Issues’, Refugee Survey Quarterly Vol.28, No. 4 (2009), pp.59–86.

14. G. Chatelard and T. Morris, ‘Editorial Essay: Iraqi Refugees, Beyond the Urban Refugee Paradigm’, Refuge: Canada's Journal on Refugees Vol.28, No.1 (2011), pp.3–14; V. Iaria, ‘Attempting Return: Iraqis’ Remigration from Iraq’, Refuge: Canada's Journal on Refugees Vol.28, No.1 (2011), pp.109–21.

15. T. Linde, ‘Mixed Migration – A Humanitarian Counterpoint’, Refugee Survey Quarterly Vol.30, No.1 (2011), pp.89–99.

16. Van Hear, Brubaker and Bessa, Managing Mobility for Human Development: The Growing Salience of Mixed Migration.

17. Linde, ‘Mixed Migration – A Humanitarian Counterpoint’.

18. Van Hear, Brubaker and Bessa, Managing Mobility for Human Development: The Growing Salience of Mixed Migration.

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20. Van Hear, Brubaker and Bessa, Managing Mobility for Human Development: The Growing Salience of Mixed Migration.

21. A. Papadopoulou, ‘Asylum, Transit Migration and The Politics of Reception: The Case of Kurds in Greece’ (doctoral dissertation, University of Oxford, 2004); Collyer, ‘Stranded Migrants and the Fragmented Journey’; M. Valenta, D. Zuparic-lljc and T. Vidovic, ‘The Reluctant Asylum-Seekers: Migrants at the Southeastern Frontiers of the European Migration System’, Refugee Survey Quarterly Vol.34, No.3 (2015), pp.95–113.

22. Ċ. Mainwaring and N. Brigden, ‘Beyond the Border: Clandestine Migration Journeys’, Geopolitics Vol.21, No.2 (2016), pp.243–62. doi:10.1080/14650045.2016.1165575

23. Collyer, ‘Stranded Migrants and the Fragmented Journey’; J.P. Brekke and G. Brochmann, ’Stuck in Transit: Secondary Migration of Asylum Seekers in Europe, National Differences, and the Dublin Regulation’, Journal of Refugee Studies Vol.28, No.2 (2014), pp.145–62, doi: 10.1093/jrs/feu028; Valenta, Zuparic-lljc and Vidovic, ‘The Reluctant Asylum-Seekers: Migrants at the Southeastern Frontiers of the European Migration System’.

24. See Collyer, ‘Stranded migrants and the fragmented journey’; Linde, ‘Mixed Migration – A Humanitarian Counterpoint’; Van der Klaauw, ‘Refugee Rights in Times of Mixed Migration: Evolving Status and Protection Issues’; Van Hear, Brubaker and Bessa, Managing Mobility for Human Development: The Growing Salience of Mixed Migration.

25. P.W. Fagan, ‘Iraqi Refugees: Seeking Stability in Syria and Jordan’ (CIRS Occasional Papers No. 1, Institute for the Study of International Migration, 2009), pp.1–41, ISSN 2072-5957.

26. N. Parker, ‘The Iraq We Left Behind: Welcome to the World's Next Failed State’, Foreign Affairs Vol.91, No.2 (2012), pp.94–110.

27. Collyer, ‘Stranded Migrants and the Fragmented Journey’.

28. See Brekke and Brochmann, ‘Stuck in Transit: Secondary Migration of Asylum Seekers in Europe, National Differences, and the Dublin Regulation’; Mainwaring and Brigden, Beyond the Border: Clandestine Migration Journeys; Valenta, Zuparic-lljc and Vidovic, ‘The Reluctant Asylum-Seekers: Migrants at the Southeastern Frontiers of the European Migration System’.

29. M. Valenta and J. Jakobsen, ‘Mixed Migrations to the Gulf: An Empirical Analysis of Migrations from Unstable and Refugee-producing Countries to the GCC, 1960–2015’, Refugee Survey Quarterly Vol.36, No.2 (2017), pp.33–56.

30. Ibid.

31. Our case is in harmony with that of Mainwaring and Brigden (2016) and is highlighted in the stories of successful journeys embarked on by other Iraqis to the West, shared with us by our informants, no matter how perilous the journeys may have been.

32. J.P. Brekke and M. Aarset, Why Norway? Understanding Asylum Destinations (Report, Oslo: Institutt for samfunnsforskning (ISF)). See also M. Valenta and K. Thorshaug, ‘‘Asylum Seekers’ Perspectives on Work and Proof of Identity: The Norwegian Experience’, Refugee Survey Quarterly Vol.31, No.2 (2012), pp.76–97.

33. It should be stressed that the position of Iraqis has deteriorated in recent years. They do not have access to several of the services that they were entitled to some years ago. See J. Hart and A. Kvittingen, ‘Rights without Borders? Learning from the Institutional Response to Iraqi Refugee Children in Jordan’, Children's Geographies Vol.14, No.2 (2016), pp.217–31.

34. Valenta, Zuparic-lljc and Vidovic, ‘The Reluctant Asylum-Seekers: Migrants at the Southeastern Frontiers of the European Migration System’. The Dublin Regulations determine which member state is responsible for asylum claims. Conventionally, the member country where the asylum seeker first arrives bears the responsibility for this asylum seeker. Therefore, asylum seekers that lodge an asylum application in one of the Member States are denied applying for asylum in other member states. If they try to do that they will be returned to the member state where they lodged their first applications. See Council Regulation (EC) No. 343/2003. ‘Establishing the criteria and mechanisms for determining the Member State responsible for examining an asylum application lodged in one of the Member States by a third-country national’, Official Journal of the European Union. L (50/1), 25 February 2003. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32003R0343&from=EN [last accessed 29 September 2017]. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/oct/07/dublin-regulation-european-asylum-seekers [last accessed 29 September 2017].

35. Collyer, ‘Stranded Migrants and the Fragmented Journey’; S. Hoffman, ‘Living in Limbo: Iraqi Refugees in Indonesia’, Refuge: Canada's Journal on Refugees Vol.28, No.1 (2011), pp.15–24; Brekke and Brochmann, ‘Stuck in Transit: Secondary Migration of Asylum Seekers in Europe, National Differences, and the Dublin Regulation’; Valenta, Zuparic-lljc and Vidovic, ‘The Reluctant Asylum-Seekers: Migrants at the Southeastern Frontiers of the European Migration System’.

36. Collyer, ‘Stranded Migrants and the Fragmented Journey’.

37. Ibid; M. Collyer, ‘In-Between Places; Trans-Saharan Transit Migrants in Morocco and the Fragmented Journey to Europe’, Antipode Vol.39, No.4 (2007), pp.668–90.