Trapped in the Maze: Migrants and Public Services

Ensuring the inclusion and integration of migrants is a crucial responsibility of public administrations, guided by national and international regulations. However, accessing public services often presents significant barriers for migrants, ethnic minorities, and racialized citizens, hindering their socio-economic mobility. Many find themselves trapped in bureaucratic limbo when attempting to navigate these services. Drawing on research from the easyRights project, this paper examines the challenges faced by migrants in four European cities: Palermo, Larissa, Malaga, and Birmingham.

Using a mixed-methods approach—including interviews, focus groups, participant observations, and surveys—the study identifies critical obstacles preventing migrants from accessing essential services. These include language barriers, complex bureaucratic procedures, discriminatory behaviors, and lacking human rights literacy among public and private service providers. These challenges hinder social and economic integration and create entrapment situations for migrants, resulting in significant personal and societal costs.

The paper explores the socio-economic impacts of these barriers, such as procedural failures, financial burdens, psychological stress, and a growing reliance on informal networks. Additionally, by analyzing both structural challenges and the human rights dimensions of service provision, the paper argues that improving public service accessibility and fostering human rights literacy can significantly reduce socio-economic inequalities. Such measures are essential for promoting migrant integration, enhancing their socio-economic status, and building a more inclusive society. The findings highlight the need for targeted policy interventions that address administrative inefficiencies while prioritizing protecting and promoting human rights at all levels of service delivery.