Social Policies as a Tool of Migration Control: the case of Switzerland

Abstract

Many governments use social policies as a tool of post-entry migration control, but we still do not know their impact on the life chances of migrants. To fill this gap, this article examines the impact of social policies as a tool of migration control on the life chances of migrants in Switzerland. The data suggest that the new amendments to the Foreign Nationals Act (2019), which provide for the downgrading or revocation of residence permits in case of dependence on social assistance, may have had three main consequences for migrants: delays in procedures, fear and non-take-up of social benefits, and new obstacles to family reunification.