Cross-border networks in solidarity with migrants

This paper studies the phenomenon of “crime of solidarity” in border zones, i.e when organizations support migrants through different means (crossing border, offering food, shelter, etc.) and are later on criminalized for their action. Indeed, between 2015 and 2019, at least 158 people and 16 NGOs were concerned with investigation or prosecution for the facilitation of entry, transit, residence or stay of migrants or sometimes other grounds (Vosyliūtė & Conte, 2019). Despite the ‘risks’ and ‘costs’ (Mcadam, 1986) of these actions, civil society organizations continue to act in solidarity with migrants. These organizational networks not only provide support to people on the move through basic needs services, but they also illustrate a political resistance to European border policies. Indeed, these solidarity practices make the border a space for struggle, political claims and, more generally, for contention (Monforte, 2016). This paper aims at exploring and examining cross-border networks of organizations involved in solidarity activism with migrants. In particular, it focuses on the borders between Italy and France and Italy and Switzerland. It presents a mapping of organizations based on a data collection process using press articles and associations’ websites. The actors are analyzed through: i) the type of activities they engage(d) in; ii) the types of risk these activities entail; iii) their collaborations with other actors, both nationally and across the border. The paper constitutes the base for further field investigation on high-risk cross-border political engagement. It aims at contributing further understanding on solidarity networks operative schemes under increasing legal and political pressure.