Corrupt(ing) Borders: Navigating Urban Immigration Policing in Malaysia

Corruption is not just a feature of border enforcement but actively shapes the border itself, influencing its performance and logic. In George Town, Malaysia, migrants strategically use bribery to evade arrests and deportation, revealing how corrupt practices distort immigration policing. This study challenges conventional views on borders by demonstrating that they are not fixed demarcations but dynamic constructs shaped by everyday bordering practices. Fieldwork in George Town uncovered how corruption influences the enforcement of internal borders, affecting when, where, and why migrants face control. The findings highlight the need to recognize corruption as both a component and a performative element of border dynamics.

Franck, A. K. (2018). Corrupt(ing) Borders: Navigating Urban Immigration Policing in Malaysia. Geopolitics, 24(1), 251–269. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2017.1422121