This paper challenges the conventional view of irregular migration as solely a security threat or humanitarian concern, highlighting the significant skills and labor market potential of irregular migrants in Europe. Based on the lived experiences of 34 non-European migrants in Belgium, the study reveals high skill heterogeneity among irregular migrants, demonstrating that skills are dynamic and adaptable to migration trajectories. However, legal limbo and camp life lead to significant deskilling, and irregular migrants face exploitation and negative social discourses. The paper critiques the instrumentalization of 'skill' as an othering tool in EU migration policies, arguing for a reimagining of migration categories to address global inequalities and racial hierarchies.

Damini Purkayastha, Tuba Bircan, Ahmad Wali Ahmad Yar, Duha Ceylan