Local governance, horizontal coordination and unauthorized immigrants’ status in France and Spain

Abstract

The local governance of unauthorized immigration casts light on the fragmentation of policy outcomes in multi-level governance systems. The article focuses on the horizontal dimension of governance in local contexts in France and Spain. I argue that the devolution of competences in the policy-making and implementation of migration management and welfare, has empowered local and regional authorities in the governance of unauthorized immigration. In particular, I examine how the devolution of several policy domains has opened opportunities of collaboration between public and non-profit organisations. With the low devolution of migration control, public-non-profit relations are dominated by advocacy and bargaining. However, with the devolution of welfare and social exclusion policies, non-profit become partners in the policy-making and implementation of policies. I also show that these relations are different depending on the local settings and institutional cultures in France and Spain.