Law enforcement agents at European borders: perceptions of migration, and the networked and relational exercise of discretion in policy implementation

Law enforcement agents (LEAs) operating at the forefront of European borders play a crucial role in the implementation of migration policies. As frontline actors, LEAs are often perceived as powerful agents who enforce legislation and determine who is granted entry or denied access to European territory. This study, conducted within the framework of the PERCEPTIONS project, examines LEAs’ perceptions of migration and their discretionary implementation practices in five European countries. Our findings challenge the assumption that LEAs perceptions of migration are key in explaining their practices as they exercise discretionary power in an unlimited or unilateral manner. Instead, we argue that LEAs’ daily practices are shaped through interactions within a complex network of actors. Adopting a networked and relational approach to discretion, this study highlights how power relations, negotiation, and inter-agency dynamics influence border enforcement, ultimately demonstrating that discretion is co-produced.