COVID-19 and Asylum Rights

Most countries in Europe and around the world adopted a vast array of measures and, especially during the first stages of the pandemic, many had a marked punitive and coercive nature. Governments used states of exception to curtail the rights of migrants and asylum seekers with a certain degree of impunity. In this context, the aim of this chapter is to explore the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the experiences of migrants and asylum seekers in the European Union (EU). To do so, it first discusses the main policy responses in the EU context and their implications for fundamental rights, specifically for the right to asylum. Then, special emphasis is given to the European Southern border, a critical intersection that illustrates the challenges and dilemmas faced by EU Mediterranean states in balancing public health priorities and human rights responsibilities. The chapter specifically focuses on the case study of the Spanish city of Melilla. Here, the merging of pandemic measures, border control and the treatment of vulnerable populations becomes visible, offering insights into the broader socio-political implications of the pandemic.