Instrumentalizing vulnerabilities: African and Haitian asylum seekers in Mexico navigating their road to protection

Abstract

This study investigates how African and Haitian migrants and asylum seekers in transit through Mexico utilise the concept of vulnerability, as defined by current migration management systems, to secure protection and legal status. Through ethnographic fieldwork conducted with 30 migrants in Mexico from 2021 to 2023, the research employs semi-structured interviews and longitudinal follow-ups to understand these dynamics. The findings reveal that migrants strategically leverage perceived vulnerabilities, particularly those related to gender and ethnicity, to navigate asylum processes. This strategic use of vulnerability might help in accessing protection but also redistributes vulnerability within migrant communities, leading to new forms of exclusion and hierarchy. The study raises critical questions about the ethics and effectiveness of vulnerability-based protection regimes, highlighting the need for more nuanced and contextual approaches in contemporary migration policies to avoid unintended consequences.