Experiences of violence while in insecure migration status: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Background The global movement of people in the context of strict immigration laws and policies places significant
numbers of people in insecure migration status worldwide. Insecure status leaves people without recourse to legal,
governmental or social protection from violence and abuse. This review synthesized qualitative studies that reported
how migrants associated physical and physically enforced sexual violence they experienced with their insecure
migration status.

Methods We conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis of 31 studies published between 1 January 2000 and 31
May 2023, with data from Europe, North America, East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Our thematic
synthesis produced 14 inductive descriptive codes, four descriptive themes and three analytical themes.

Results We generated robust qualitative evidence showing that women experienced sexual violence while in transit
or without status in a host state, and that they associated that violence with their insecure migration status. This was
the case across the various geographic routes and destination countries. We found evidence that women associated
intimate partner violence with lacking (legal) access to support because of their insecure migration status. We found
evidence that women connected their unwillingness to leave violent circumstances, and therefore their prolonged or
repeated exposure to violence, with a fear of immigration removal produced by their insecure migration status.

Conclusion To protect people in insecure migration status from experiencing violence that they associated
with their migration status, it’s necessary to ensure that the reporting of violence does not lead to immigration
enforcement consequences for the victim.