L’Espagne et l’immigration irrégulière subsaharienne : de l’effet du mythe sophistique a l’inaction concertée

This article offers a critical reading of irregular sub-Saharan migration to Spain, linking the symbolic, political and diplomatic dimensions of the phenomenon. It shows that this migration, often perceived as an imminent danger, is constructed as a sophisticated myth, that is, a socially and politically instrumentalised narrative, fed by the media, African imaginations and alarmist discourse. At the same time, state and European responses, far from being non-existent, are the result of concerted inaction: a strategy of delegated management, marked by the outsourcing of controls, the contractualisation of security and the fragmentation of responsibilities. This form of migration governance, based on repression rather than support, is proving ineffective and contrary to the principles of justice. The article argues for a rethinking of Spanish policy along three lines: deconstructing the imaginary crisis; putting an end to security delegation in favour of egalitarian diplomacy; and opening up legal channels for movement. Through this approach, migration is seen not as a threat, but as a structural and potentially beneficial phenomenon, provided that it is managed, humanised and integrated into a framework of Euro-African cooperation that respects fundamental rights. Spain could thus become a driving force behind a change in the migration paradigm.