Arts & Culture
The Anthropology of Borders and the Production of Illegality
Quick fact
Anthropologists argue that the border does not simply keep illegal migrants out; it creates them. Legal categories of 'illegal' and 'undocumented' emerge through specific laws and enforcement practices, meaning that what counts as illegal changes over time and across countries.
Why this is interesting
When you cross a border, you rarely think about the legal status you carry. But what if the line itself could make you a criminal?