University of Greenwich academic finds trend in governments outsourcing their migration problems to other countries | Articles
The UK and Rwanda are just the latest example of countries outsourcing their migration problems.
17 March 2026
A new study, published in the New York University
International Journal of Law and Politics
has examined how developed nations like Spain, the UK and the USA are increasingly shifting responsibility for handling asylum/immigration matters to developing countries. The research was conducted by Dr Ayesha Riaz from the University of Greenwich alongside Prof Ana-Pottratz Acosta from the University of Minnesota, and Dr Alfredo Dos Santos Soares from the Universidad Pontificia Comilla.
This approach, known as ‘externalisation’, raises profound questions about the way developed nations are outsourcing their obligations towards the most marginalised section
of our communities, potentially in breach international law. Despite signing international agreements to protect asylum seekers, the new research shows that developed nations can deviate away from their responsibilities towards asylum seekers/migrants through various externalisation schemes.
Spain has been doing this since the early 1990s as it has signed agreements with countries including Morocco, Mauritius and Senegal.  The research indicates that developed nations in the Global North face increased pressure to appear tough on immigration/asylum, which has led to a rise in externalisation schemes.
Senior lecturer Dr Riaz says:
“When countries outsource migration control, they’re not just moving their  borders, they’re moving their conscience. It lets governments wash their hands  of responsibility while people fleeing danger are pushed further into harm’s way,  out of sight and out of mind. No amount of policy language can disguise what’s  really happening: we’re paying others to do the dirty work of keeping desperate  people out.”
Their journal article titled,
Outsourcing our Dirty Work: Analyzing Migration Control and Asylum Management Externalization Models in Spain, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US)
, highlights how these policies increase both physical and emotional distance between governments and the people seeking help.
General public; Research community
Communications and Recruitment Directorate
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