Media pundits, politicians, and the public are often skeptical or ambivalent about granting asylum. They fear that asylum-seekers will impose economic and cultural costs and pose security threats to nationals. Consequently, governments of rich, democratic countries attempt to limit who can approach their borders, which often leads to refugees breaking immigration laws.
In Refuge beyond Reach, David Scott FitzGerald traces how rich democracies have deliberately and systematically shut down most legal paths to safety. Drawing on official government documents, information obtained via WikiLeaks, and interviews with asylum seekers, he finds that for ninety-nine percent of refugees, the only way to find safety in one of the prosperous democracies of the Global North is to reach its territory and then ask for asylum. FitzGerald shows how the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia comply with the letter of law while violating the spirit of those laws through a range of deterrence methods -- first designed to keep out Jews fleeing the Nazis -- that have now evolved into a pervasive global system of "remote control." While some of the most draconian remote control practices continue in secret, Fitzgerald identifies some pressure points and finds that a diffuse humanitarian obligation to help those in need is more difficult for governments to evade than the law
alone.
Refuge beyond Reach addresses one of the world's most pressing challenges -- how to manage flows of refugees and other types of migrants -- and helps to identify the conditions under which individuals can access the protection of their universal rights.
Industry Reviews
Written in an accessible style, Refuge beyond Reach makes an excellent introduction to the topic of refugee deterrence. * Kathryn Tomko Dennler, Refuge: Canada's Journal on Refugees *
In Refuge beyond Reach, FitzGerald documents how rich democracies deploy techniques of "remote control" to deliberately prevent refugees from reaching sanctuary. Meticulously researched and comprehensive in scope, the book traces how prosperous democracies of the global North-Australia, Canada, the EU, and the US-have deliberately and systematically violated the spirit of refugee protection laws by shutting down most legal paths for asylum seekers to claim asylum. Although these countries do not repatriate refugees, they have implemented a number of so-called remote control measures-including complex visa and air transportation policies, asylee caging on third-country territories, maritime interception policies-to keep out unwanted foreigners. Refuge beyond Reachis an invaluable and timely reference for all who are interested in protection of refugees. * Y. L. Espiritu, University of California San Diego, CHOICE *
Refuge beyond Reach is a meticulously researched and fascinating unveiling of the current practice by countries to shirk and undermine international refugee protection. FitzGerald's passionate analysis, highlighting the Canadian, US, EU, and Australian models, dissects the harmful legal and policy foundations informing and influencing current global practice to restrict the right to seek asylum. An eye-opener and useful reference for scholars and practitioners alike * Charmain Mohamed, Head of Refugee and Migrant Rights, Amnesty International *
For many European and North American nations, our asylum to refugees became part of our identity. But now, the richest, most peaceful, and well-organized societies are competing in a race to the bottom in becoming the least welcoming to people fleeing violence, war, and persecution. In Refuge beyond Reach, FitzGerald explains how and why the most powerful nations on Earth ended up betraying ancient signs of civilization and leaving the protection of refugees up to communities that have neither the resources nor the stability to protect the most vulnerable in their hour of greatest need. It is an important book for our time and age * Jan Egeland, Secretary General, Norwegian Refuge Council, former UN Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs *
FitzGerald persuasively shows how states in the global North have developed comprehensive systems for shutting out asylum-seekers fleeing persecution and violence. Based on innovative conceptual work and detailed case studies, Refuge beyond Reach provides a powerful and disturbing account of the undermining of principles fundamental to the international refugee regime through the construction of an 'architecture of repulsion * T. Alexander Aleinikoff, Professor and Director of the Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility, The New School, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees (2010-15) *
