Making irregularity work: Institutionalized interaction, forced mobility, and the fragmentation of rights in Barcelona

Migrants with an irregular administrative status face precarious housing conditions, leading to violations of essential rights. In line with the increasing importance of local governance in migration policies, sanctuary cities have positioned themselves as shelters for all, regardless of legal status, by implementing various inclusion measures. In Barcelona, legal recognition for individuals without a residency permit, arraigo requires proof of continuous settlement in a neighborhood, established through municipal census registration (empadronamiento) and the neighborhood ID card (tarjeta de vecindad). However, applicants are forced to move between emergency shelters, NGO-run accommodations, and the streets. This dynamic creates a system of supervision, limiting their autonomy and social interactions. We explore the contradiction between local inclusion policies and actual institutional practices. National immigration law restricts the right to international mobility, while local policies constrain the right to settle, proving how multi-level regulations facilitate forced (im)mobility. These two sets of restrictions are directly linked to the violation of two essential rights: mobility and settlement. As a result, despite inclusion policies, illegalized migrants in Barcelona experience what we consider an internal border, the institutionalized interaction defined by weak social ties, forced mobility, and fragmented rights.