Reconsidering the history of eugenics and discrimination in migration control

Recent work on migration has increasingly demonstrated that, in order to understand the complexity of the current border regimes, we must take the history of their development seriously. This article argues that, in foregrounding complexity, historical approaches are instructive to understanding the workings of border regimes, including by highlighting the importance of eugenic thinking to their development and the role played by discrimination on a case-by-case basis. Modern border regimes can be seen as implicitly based on eugenics principles: the national body politic regulates the movement of migrants to avoid contamination from ‘undesirables’. Taking the British Empire as a focal point, this article explores the intricacies of historic migration control systems, delving into decision-making processes, the role of stereotypes, and the impact of various intersectional factors on migration experiences. It emphasizes the role of discretion and discrimination in border management; laws based on morality, health, wealth, race, and gender were interpreted flexibly by officials, leading to unpredictable outcomes. Focusing on the lived experiences of these historic systems shows how institutional discrimination was constructed and enacted. Building on the increasing recognition within Migration Studies of the legacies of colonialism and racism, this article demands more interdisciplinary research to comprehend better historical roots and contemporary issues related to migration. Scholars need to engage with a wide body of literature and collaborate across disciplines to facilitate a deeper exploration of the origins of modern migration control and its links with the present.