This session will discuss two papers to deepen our understanding of how formal policies and informal support systems influence integration outcomes, revealing the multifaceted ways in which migrants navigate institutional frameworks and community spaces on their journey to belonging.

One of the papers examines Spain’s dual-track naturalisation policy, analysing how differentiated citizenship pathways influence integration trajectories for immigrant groups. Using a causal approach, the study reveals how these policies not only affect immigrants' access to rights and resources but also signal societal hierarchies, shaping public perceptions of belonging and worthiness.

The other paper delves into the experiences of irregular Indian migrants in Italy, focusing on religious temples as critical yet ambivalent intermediary spaces in the integration process. Drawing on ethnographic research, it highlights how these temples provide initial shelter and support yet also place migrants in complex relationships of dependency.

The Migration Working Group (MWG) is a researcher-led research group, whose aim is to foster exchange on the latest, cutting-edge migration research and give the opportunity to early career scholars and PhD researchers to present their research.