On 10 April 2024 the European Parliament approved the new Pact on Migration and Asylum. This latest reform represents a significant shift in how the EU approaches asylum, migration, and border management.

But what does digital technology have to do with the New Pact on Migration and Asylum?

One of the most transformative aspects of the New Pact is that technology plays a central role in implementing migration policies. Technological solutions aim to enhance control and reduce irregular immigration. However, this digital shift also raises concerns about the potential infringement on migrants’ rights, particularly concerning surveillance discrimination and data protection. For instance, the agreement introduces a pre-entry screening procedure for collecting biometric data from third-country nationals. It also reforms the Eurodac database, which expand the types of data stored and data collection objectives.

As cities are often the first to experience the impacts of migration and are responsible for implementing integration policies, the digitalisation of migration management has profound implications for local governance.

Eurocities and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung have recently published a joint paper that explores the impact of the New Pact’s digital regulations on migrants’ rights and the crucial role cities play in ensuring these rights are protected.

Digital solutions for migration management

The shift towards digital migration management is particularly impactful at the local level, where cities are tasked with the integration of migrants and refugees. Cities are deploying digital solutions such as data-sharing systems, applications, and artificial intelligence to support the implementation of integration policies.

For instance, the municipality of Espoo is currently piloting the “Trust-M” project, which uses an AI-driven chatbot to help refugees and migrants navigate public services.

The city of Amsterdam is using a database to share information between partner organisations to implement its shelter and legal counselling project supporting people whose asylum applications have been rejected.

In Berlin, to ease the interactions between refugees and administrative officers, the city is using digitalised video and audio translation. The municipality is also currently developing an app that will provide relevant and user-friendly information for third-country nationals and facilitate their access to other digital services of the city.

Vilnius City also provides many digital services. Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine due to Russian aggression and the influx of refugees into Vilnius, the need for financial assistance became increasingly important. This need was met by enhancing digital services with advanced technologies. “Services were modified to cater to the needs of those fleeing war, allowing information to be provided and accessed in Ukrainian, Russian, and English, and focusing on specific methods of information flow,” says Simona Bieliūnė, Deputy Mayor of Vilnius and Eurocities Shadow Commissioner for Welcoming Cities.

How can cities ensure that digital human rights of migrants and refugees are respected?

Digital tools must be carefully managed to ensure they do not inadvertently contribute to the marginalization of the very populations they are intended to assist. The paper proposes policy recommendations to ensure respect for the fundamental rights of migrants in the digital context.

1. Involve cities in the digitalisation of migration policy processes. This includes participating in the design and implementation of digital systems such as AI, algorithmic decision-making tools, and interoperability frameworks that support integration and migration management.
2. Support cities to put in place appropriate measures to ensure the digital human rights of migrants and refugees. National and European authorities must invest in the infrastructure, human resources, and financial support needed by local administrations to adapt to the new legislative framework and ensure that the fundamental rights of migrants are respected.
3. Ensure a data-sharing firewall between key public services and immigration enforcement to maintain trust between city administrations and migrant communities. Safeguards must be put in place to prevent the misuse of data and protect migrants from potential abuses, such as their personal information being cross-checked against watchlists.
4. Develop a coherent and transparent interoperability framework across European, national, and local levels. This framework should establish clear guidelines on the transparency and accessibility of shared data, define the roles and responsibilities of different governance levels, and ensure that civil servants working in migration and social affairs are equipped with the necessary skills to navigate these complex systems.

In conclusion, by involving cities in the digitalisation process and building their capacities to protect digital rights, the EU can better safeguard the rights of migrants. But also, ensuring clear boundaries between data-sharing for public services and immigration enforcement, and developing a transparent interoperability framework, would leverage the benefits of digital innovation.

These steps are essential to ensure that the digitalisation of migration policy does not exacerbate existing inequalities or create new forms of exclusion and poverty in urban areas.

You can access the full paper here.