Paper short abstract:

This paper focusses on the situation of undocumented, homeless refugees in Brussels, whose mobility takes place in resistance to multi-level migration policies and control mechanisms, and on NGOs supporting them. It discusses strategies and ways in which spaces of mobilities are created.

Paper long abstract:

This paper focusses on the current situation of homeless undocumented refugees in Brussels and their mobilities. Most of them have been travelling through Europe and are on their way to the UK or are looking for other ways of making their life in Europe. In Brussels this situation has led to numerous initiatives by citizens to support these refugees and set up an infrastructure for them.

The paper is based on an ethnographic study with NGOs and refugees in Brussels and Calais and looks at their situation in the context of supra-, state, and sub-state multi-level governance of the asylum system, state bordering practices, control and the paradigm of "crisis". It sheds light on the strategies and practices of the different actors and understands these as acts of citizenship. Finally, it discusses in how far NGOs, refugees and other actors cross and extend borders and boundaries and create new forms and spaces of mobilities. The concept of mobility will here be interpreted as a form of resistance to the official migration regimes.