STORIES FROM HORROR |When Looking Like a Migrant Is a Crime

Hi How are you?  Welcome to this podcast, from the Canary Islands to the world, when  it's ...

This is a raw and unfiltered look at the darkest chapters of history. In each episode I explore dictatorships, hate crimes and terror regimes that left indelible scars on humanity. Silenced voices, forgotten memories and uncomfortable truths that need to be told. 

In Spain, France, Italy, and other European countries, raids have become a tool to criminalize migrant and racialized communities. People walking down the street or in their neighborhoods are arbitrarily detained, simply because of their appearance.

These practices not only violate basic human rights, but also generate fear, exclusion, and perpetuate stereotypes. They are disguised as legal controls, but in practice, they are based on racial prejudice.

In France, raids against migrants in neighborhoods like Calais and Paris are constant. In Italy, especially in cities like Rome and Milan, this practice has also been reported.

In Spain, especially during peak migration periods, arbitrary detentions were documented at bus stops in the Canary Islands. Police carried out checks based on physical appearance, detaining people primarily of Black or sub-Saharan African origin without any clear legal reason, simply for "looking like migrants."

This type of racial profiling not only violates fundamental rights but also criminalizes and stigmatizes entire communities. The normalization of these practices generated fear and social exclusion in neighborhoods and public spaces.

These raids reflect a pattern repeated in many parts of Europe, where security is used as an excuse to discriminate and reproduce xenophobic narratives.

These actions fuel a system of oppression that justifies increasingly restrictive and dehumanizing immigration policies.

Let us remember that behind every number is a person with rights, dignity, and a story. Denouncing these practices is a step toward changing the narrative and demanding justice.

And that concludes  today's episode, see you in the next one!      

If you have any comments or suggestions for future episodes, feel free to drop me a comment.

Patricia López Muñoz
Higher Technician in Sociocultural Dynamisation
Specialist in Immigration
Higher Technician in Social Integration