Living on the Margins : Undocumented Migrants in a Global City

'Living on the Margins' offers a unique insight into the working lives of undocumented (or 'irregular') migrants living in London. It uses an international context to the research and provides theoretical, policy and empirical analyses. As debates over immigration policy rage in the United States and around the globe, Living on the Margins offers profound insight into the working lives of undocumented migrants themselves. Focusing on London-based migrants and their employers, Alice Bloch and Sonia McKay expose the contradictions in policy and interactions among class, immigration hierarchies, and gender that operate within the ethnic enclave economy, marginalizing and criminalizing these migrants while promoting exploitative labor markets. But the authors also offer hope, revealing how migrants can be active agents in shaping their lives within the constraints of their undocumented status. Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this book places migrant research in a global context, providing theoretical, policy, and empirical analyses that travel across borders LIVING ON THE MARGINS Contents List of tables Acknowledgements 1. Introduction Theoretical understandings of undocumented migration Social capital and undocumented migrants Do social networks advantage? Undocumented migrants and work Ethnic enclave employers The research basis for the book: methods and methodology Mapping the book 2. Policy, law and rights Contextualising migration policy Protection through international law European policy and laws on undocumented migration UK immigration rules and the construction of illegality The exclusivity of citizenship Conclusion 3. Migration: motives, journey and status mobility Deciding to leave the country of origin and come to the UK Entering the UK and pathways to becoming an undocumented migrant Trying to regularise status: not trying to regularise Conclusion 4. Undocumented migrants living and working in London Searching for work Jobs and sectors of employment Employment terms and conditions Working within or outside of the ethnic enclave Relations in the workplace Conclusion 5. Ethnic enclave entrepreneurs A choice of entrepreneurship or a survival choice Current and changing attitudes to employing workers Employment decision making Looking for workers, relying on trust Working conditions – the employer’s perspective Conclusion 6. Social networks and social lives Family networks and obligations Friends and partners Community involvement and engagement Activities beyond work and community centres Maintaining transnational activities Conclusion 7. The consequences of being undocumented Status in relation to health, benefits and civil justice Status and everyday life Conclusion 8. Grasping life on the margins Networks without influence Gains to the state and profit to employers Risk takers, risk avoiders and conceptualising illegality Class, gender and ethnicity Conclusion References Index Living on the margins offers a unique insight into the working lives of undocumented (or 'irregular') migrants living in London, and their employers. Breaking new ground, this topical book exposes the contradictions in policies, which marginalise and criminalise these migrants, while promoting exploitative labour market policies. However, the book reveals that the migrants can be active agents in shaping their lives within the constraint of status. Taking an inter-disciplinary approach, this fascinating book offers an international context to the research and provides theoretical, policy and empirical analyses. It will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and academics, as well as policy makers, practitioners and interested non-specialists. -- From publisher's website "Living on the margins offers a unique insight into the working lives of undocumented (or ‘irregular’) migrants living in London, and their employers. Breaking new ground, this topical book exposes the contradictions in policies, which marginalise and criminalise these migrants, while promoting exploitative labour market policies. However, the book reveals that the migrants can be active agents in shaping their lives within the constraint of status. Taking an inter-disciplinary approach, this fascinating book offers an international context to the research and provides theoretical, policy and empirical analyses. It will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and academics, as well as policy makers, practitioners and interested non-specialists."--Page 4 de la couverture

Living on the margins offers a unique insight into the working lives of undocumented (or 'irregular') migrants living in London, and their employers. Breaking new ground, this topical book exposes the contradictions in policies, which marginalise and criminalise these migrants, while promoting exploitative labour market policies. However, the book reveals that the migrants can be active agents in shaping their lives within the constraint of status. Taking an inter-disciplinary approach, this fascinating book offers an international context to the research and provides theoretical, policy and empirical analyses. It will appeal to undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers and academics, as well as policy makers, practitioners and interested non-specialists.