Exploring the connection between migration and terrorism: Does the risk justify the potential human rights abuses?

While migration has been an inflammatory issue for society for centuries, the 21st century has catapulted the issue into the realm of terrorism and radicalisation threats. The narratives around migration have been particularly used as a manipulative tool by conservative and populist governments which have seen an increase in support globally over the past two decades. Through an apparently tentative connection between migration and security threats, governments have striven to deter people from coming to their states both through legal and illegal means by creating difficult and, in some cases, traumatising situations where human rights adherence is only casually respected. This paper explores the migration-security-nationalist nexus whereby those coming from other countries feed into a narrative of fear put forward by governments. Focusing on the UK’s situation, the treatment of individuals from various countries including Afghanistan, Ukraine and Syria will be explored in detail, through government document analysis, media narratives and public opinion scrutiny. The goal of this paper is to better understand if there is a deterioration of human rights adherence by the UK government in the face of a perceived security threat of terrorism, and to use the data uncovered to propose a framework within which academic research can more tangibly contribute to better migration policy development.