Since 2021, the Danish Red Cross and DRC Danish Refugee Council have been collaborating with the Centre for Advanced Migration Studies at Copenhagen University on practical research project “Boundary Work”. The project's results were presented in March at a conference and political debate held in the Danish Parliament.
 
The aim of the project was to examine how refugees, volunteers and caseworkers navigate integration and return processes in the context of the so-called “paradigm shift” that took place in Danish asylum policy from 2015 - 2019, where focus moved from refugee integration to refugee return. The most fundamental change within this shift was the limiting of the length of all residence permits for non-EU citizens to 1-2 years, with their renewal subject to assessment. Criteria for obtaining a permanent residence permit were also tightened, and now include 8 years of legal stay (for which time spent enrolled in education is not eligible), good Danish language skills, and proof of full-time employment for a minimum of 3.5 years.
 
The project examines the negative impact of this paradigm shift on refugees, volunteers and case workers at the local level. Key findings include that many refugees are in a constant state of stress, and therefore struggle to focus and plan their future, while local volunteers voiced feelings of frustration and helplessness. Municipality social workers said that it can be difficult to promote and support refugees' integration when legislation and politics are promoting their return as soon as possible.
 
The project issued a number of recommendations based on its research, including that the government move focus away from short, temporary permits and rather work to facilitate access to permanent residence permits. It is suggested that one way of doing this could be by reducing the minimum legal stay requirement and allowing time spent in education to count towards time spent legally in the country.

The project has also released a podcast series, a 12-page booklet (in Danish), and several academic articles.

For more information, contact Marie Sandberg: sandberg@hum.ku.dk.