The Right to a Family Life and the Biometric 'Truth' of Family Reunification: Somali Refugees in Denmark

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Standard

The Right to a Family Life and the Biometric 'Truth' of Family Reunification : Somali Refugees in Denmark. / Olwig, Karen Fog.

In: Ethnos, Vol. 87, No. 2, 2022, p. 275-289.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Harvard

Olwig, KF 2022, 'The Right to a Family Life and the Biometric 'Truth' of Family Reunification: Somali Refugees in Denmark', Ethnos, vol. 87, no. 2, pp. 275-289. https://doi.org/10.1080/00141844.2019.1648533

APA

Olwig, K. F. (2022). The Right to a Family Life and the Biometric 'Truth' of Family Reunification: Somali Refugees in Denmark. Ethnos, 87(2), 275-289. https://doi.org/10.1080/00141844.2019.1648533

Vancouver

Olwig KF. The Right to a Family Life and the Biometric 'Truth' of Family Reunification: Somali Refugees in Denmark. Ethnos. 2022;87(2):275-289. https://doi.org/10.1080/00141844.2019.1648533

Author

Olwig, Karen Fog. / The Right to a Family Life and the Biometric 'Truth' of Family Reunification : Somali Refugees in Denmark. In: Ethnos. 2022 ; Vol. 87, No. 2. pp. 275-289.

Bibtex

@article{11b9d79c9a26487aba92b3a6db9dfbf9,
title = "The Right to a Family Life and the Biometric 'Truth' of Family Reunification: Somali Refugees in Denmark",
abstract = "Biometric assessment of refugees{\textquoteright} applications for family reunification has become standard practice in many countries when {\textquoteleft}credible{\textquoteright} legal documentation of kin relations is lacking. Studies have criticised biometrics for objectifying families as bio-genetic units as part of a {\textquoteleft}new regime of truth{\textquoteright} that regards bodies as sources of truth about individuals {\textquoteleft}real{\textquoteright} identity. This article argues that, while biometric verification poses severe limitations on the right to reunification, it does not undo refugees{\textquoteright} agency. Ethnographic analysis of Somali refugees{\textquoteright} family unification in Denmark since the 1990s demonstrates how they have actively negotiated shifting legislation, initially applying their own interpretation of the family and attempting to circumvent biometric control, eventually appropriating the biometrically defined nuclear family as a practical tool to rework family life under new social conditions. This points to the importance of recognising the agency of those exposed to the truth regime.",
keywords = "Biometric border control, DNA, family reunification, Somali refugees, Denmark",
author = "Olwig, {Karen Fog}",
year = "2022",
doi = "10.1080/00141844.2019.1648533",
language = "English",
volume = "87",
pages = "275--289",
journal = "Ethnos",
issn = "0014-1844",
publisher = "Routledge",
number = "2",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Right to a Family Life and the Biometric 'Truth' of Family Reunification

T2 - Somali Refugees in Denmark

AU - Olwig, Karen Fog

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Biometric assessment of refugees’ applications for family reunification has become standard practice in many countries when ‘credible’ legal documentation of kin relations is lacking. Studies have criticised biometrics for objectifying families as bio-genetic units as part of a ‘new regime of truth’ that regards bodies as sources of truth about individuals ‘real’ identity. This article argues that, while biometric verification poses severe limitations on the right to reunification, it does not undo refugees’ agency. Ethnographic analysis of Somali refugees’ family unification in Denmark since the 1990s demonstrates how they have actively negotiated shifting legislation, initially applying their own interpretation of the family and attempting to circumvent biometric control, eventually appropriating the biometrically defined nuclear family as a practical tool to rework family life under new social conditions. This points to the importance of recognising the agency of those exposed to the truth regime.

AB - Biometric assessment of refugees’ applications for family reunification has become standard practice in many countries when ‘credible’ legal documentation of kin relations is lacking. Studies have criticised biometrics for objectifying families as bio-genetic units as part of a ‘new regime of truth’ that regards bodies as sources of truth about individuals ‘real’ identity. This article argues that, while biometric verification poses severe limitations on the right to reunification, it does not undo refugees’ agency. Ethnographic analysis of Somali refugees’ family unification in Denmark since the 1990s demonstrates how they have actively negotiated shifting legislation, initially applying their own interpretation of the family and attempting to circumvent biometric control, eventually appropriating the biometrically defined nuclear family as a practical tool to rework family life under new social conditions. This points to the importance of recognising the agency of those exposed to the truth regime.

KW - Biometric border control

KW - DNA

KW - family reunification

KW - Somali refugees

KW - Denmark

U2 - 10.1080/00141844.2019.1648533

DO - 10.1080/00141844.2019.1648533

M3 - Journal article

VL - 87

SP - 275

EP - 289

JO - Ethnos

JF - Ethnos

SN - 0014-1844

IS - 2

ER -

ID: 241207284