Navigating Shifting Borders in the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum: Internalisation Versus Externalisation

This article critically examines the European Union’s Pact on Migration and Asylum, exploring its impact on border dynamics, migrant mobility, and the governance of asylum within and beyond EU borders. Through the theoretical lens of "shifting borders," we analyze how the Pact employs mechanisms of externalization and internalization to redefine Europe’s approach to asylum and migration management. Externalization strategies, such as "safe third country" agreements, shift the responsibility for asylum processing to non-EU states, often prioritizing deterrence over protection. Internalization, through intensified border procedures and detention policies within EU borders, imposes restrictive controls that limit mobility, restricts access to legal protections, making it increasingly difficult for asylum seekers to assert their rights. Our analysis reveals the dual function of these strategies: externalization acts as a tool of deterrence that keeps asylum seekers at a distance, while internalization systematically limits their access to justice and rights within EU borders. Together, these approaches foster a system of deterrence that raises pressing questions about the rights and agency of vulnerable populations seeking asylum. By unpacking these dynamics, we contribute a critical framework for understanding the broader consequences of the Pact on EU border governance and its implications for human rights.