Young undocumented migrants in England: working lives and economic survival strategies

Professor Alice Bloch (Department of Sociology, City University)

This paper draws on data from in-depth interviews and testimonies with 75 young undocumented migrants, aged 18-31, living in England from Brazil, China, Kurds from Turkey, Ukraine and Zimbabwe. The study explored the social and economic lives of young undocumented migrants and the ways in which their undocumented status impacts their life processes and life choices. This paper focuses on the working lives of young undocumented migrants and examines the role of social networks in the economic lives of young people and the ways in which these networks, often consisting of other undocumented migrants from the same country of origin and based on trust, become part of a survival strategy during periods of unemployment.

Organiser: Paru Raman

Contact email: pr1@soas.ac.uk

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