Migration Intermediation and Ethical Boundary Work: the Case of Italy’s Legal-Administrative Field

Paola Bonizzoni (), Fabio Blasis () and Giacomo Lampredi ()
Additional contact information
Paola Bonizzoni: University of Milan
Fabio Blasis: University of Milan
Giacomo Lampredi: University of Milan

Journal of International Migration and Integration, 2025, vol. 26, issue 3, No 15, 1619-1641

Abstract: Abstract This article examines the role of intermediaries in Italy’s legal-administrative migration field, focusing on how they navigate ethical dilemmas within a complex and bureaucratic migration regime. Drawing on 27 qualitative interviews with intermediaries handling visa and residence permit procedures, the study highlights the diverse landscape of actors—including profit-driven, solidarity-based, and rights-oriented intermediaries—who operate at the intersection of legal assistance, advocacy, and business. The analysis explores four key ethical dimensions shaping their work: responses to manipulated documentation, the filtering of applications based on perceived deservingness, decisions regarding service fees, and relationships with governmental authorities. The concept of ethical boundary work is used to illustrate how these intermediaries establish moral and professional distinctions, reinforcing or challenging institutional norms. Findings reveal that intermediaries both enable and constrain migrants' access to legal status, sometimes subverting restrictive policies while also reinforcing inequalities through selective practices. By shedding light on the tensions between solidarity and profit, empowerment and exploitation, the article contributes to broader discussions on migration governance, informal economies, and the moral complexities of legal-administrative intermediation. The study suggests policy measures to enhance transparency, regulate intermediation, and ensure migrants' access to fair and reliable legal assistance.

Keywords: Legal-administrative intermediation; Non-state actors; Ethical choices; Boundary work; Migration; Italy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12134-025-01251-3 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:joimai:v:26:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s12134-025-01251-3

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
https://www.springer ... tudies/journal/12134

DOI: 10.1007/s12134-025-01251-3

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of International Migration and Integration is currently edited by Lori Wilkinson

More articles in Journal of International Migration and Integration from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().