ABSTRACT
Liberal states are continuously expanding the detention systems that incarcerate irregular migrants and asylum seekers. At its base, detention is the policy or practice of depriving someone of his or her liberty because of citizenship status. It is not always possible to recognise detention when it is occurring. This is because detention centres are disguised under different names, including immigration removal centres (UK), immigration holding centres (Canada), centres de rétention administrative (France), foreigners’ guesthouses (Turkey), and service processing centres and contract detention facilities (USA). Detention is the unmentioned or disguised foundation undergirding a number of short-term or intermediate ‘solutions’ to refugee or immigration crises supported by liberals and liberal states.
