An Evaluation of Imprisonment as a Means of Migration Management

Lanre Ikuteyijo, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Akanni I. Akinyemi, Obafemi Awolowo University
Olabisi Aina, Obafemi Awolowo University

Over the years, the management of migration has been a daunting challenge for governments at the points of origin, transit, and destination. This management of migration entails the regulation of people across borders and in recent times, especially in the post 9/11 era, the use of both administrative and criminal detentions have been adopted by many countries, particularly in Europe and U.S.A. The theoretical underpinning for the article is the labeling theory, which posits that crime is not intrinsic in the act but in the social reaction to the crime. The theory is also concerned with how the self-identity and behavior of individuals may be determined by the terms used to classify them. The article notes that the use of imprisonment as a means of migration management has not reduced the incidence of irregular migration but has made migrants more vulnerable. The article concludes by suggesting some policy implications.