Publications

This study critically examines the tensions between state-led return migration policies and the responses of diaspora/migrant organizations (DO/MOs) in Sweden and Germany. While policymakers increasingly frame diasporas as “key partners” in facilitating voluntary returns, empirical evidence reveals a stark disconnect between policy rhetoric and DO/MOs’ realities. Through inductive analysis of interviews with migrant-led organizations, we identify five discursive patterns shaping engagement: disengagement, conditional support, pragmatic acceptance, alignment (with criminal deportations), and direct opposition. These positions reflect ethical dilemmas, structural constraints, and strategic negotiations within an increasingly securitized migration landscape.

Find the report here.