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Home - PICUMHome - PICUM About us Our work Members News Blogs Press releases Joint statements Factsheets Newsletters Publications Join us Contact EN FR ES About us Our work Members News Blogs Press releases Joint statements Factsheets Newsletters Publications Join us Contact EN FR ES Are you undocumented and do you need help? fb tw ig yt in For undocumented migrants, for social justice Your browser does not support the video tag. We work for a world where everyone can enjoy their human rights, whatever their migration status. © Illustration: Pieter Fannes Who we are We are a network of organisations working to ensure social justice and human rights for undocumented migrants. Who we are Our work areas Criminalisation Criminalisation Criminal law and other approaches based on sanctions are often used to punish migrants and those who provide them with assistance, and to address phenomena like smuggling, trafficking, and sex work. This leads to more, not less, harm and suffering. We call for systems that support people instead. More about Criminalisation Children, Families and Youth Children, Families and Youth For many children and families, being undocumented means that it’s a struggle to access to schools, health care and decent housing, and living in constant fear of deportation. For teenagers and young adults, it means facing an uncertain future. We call for systems that put children, youth and family life at the centre, and make their future safe. More about Children, Families and Youth Detention and Deportations Detention and Deportations Migration policies are often designed in a way that creates precarity and danger for those with less wealth and privilege, and to punish through detention and deportations those who are unable within the restrictive avenues of regular migration. We call for systems that are fair and centred around people, and help them navigate migration procedures in the community. More about Detention and Deportations Digital Technologies Digital Technologies Digital technology is being used more and more to control, surveil and restrict people in migration and those who help them in ways that reinforce discrimination and inequality, and that undermine safety and trust. We call for approaches to technology that empower and support, and that centre the needs, rights and perspectives of those most affected. More about Digital Technologies Gender Equality Gender Equality Gender norms and discrimination affect the migration choices, opportunities and experiences of women, men, and non-binary people in different ways, and the realities they face at home, in communities and the workplace. We call for policies that recognise these impacts and address them so that everyone can move and settle in a safe environment. More about Gender Equality Health Health For many, being undocumented means having little or no access to health care. It also means living and working in conditions that lead to poorer health. We call for systems that care for all people, no matter their migration status. More about Health Housing and Anti-Poverty Housing and Anti-Poverty Many undocumented people live in insecure and over-crowded housing, despite often paying exorbitant rent. Many are pushed into homelessness, and often can’t access shelters, food or financial support from the state. We call for systems that protect all tenants’ rights, provide decent accommodation, food and basic facilities. More about Housing and Anti-Poverty Justice and Policing Justice and Policing Being undocumented often means being at greater risk of coercion and abuse, and having fewer options for support, protection and safety. We want systems that address the causes of vulnerability and that put people’s safety and right to support and remedy first, whether or not they choose to engage with law enforcement or other authorities. More about Justice and Policing Regularisation Regularisation Regularising people’s residence status means recognising them as a part of society, and addressing and preventing the harm they experience when undocumented. We call for fair and effective regularisation measures that work for people. More about Regularisation Work Work Being a migrant worker in Europe often means being drastically underpaid, working in very poor conditions, and being exposed to harm. Work permits are few and often so restrictive that they make workers dependent on exploitative employers. Workers who try to stand up for their rights risk detention and deportation. We call for decent labour migration pathways, and for systems that protect the rights of all workers More about Work Our members Our member organisations work to advance the rights of undocumented migrants at the local, national or EU level. Members Why words matter The public discourse around irregular migration is often flawed and depicts undocumented people as a threat. We promote fair and humane language instead. Words Matter See our youtube channel Video library We brought together three pairs of friends and colleagues from Belgium, Spain and Switzerland. Each pair was composed of one person who lived undocumented and one who never did. We recorded their conversations as they told us about their past and how their relationship changed as the person who was undocumented finally got a residence permit. Regularisation works, and it’s the right thing to do - Your browser does not support the video tag. Video library Regularising the status of people who live undocumented means recognising them as part of our societies, and improving their quality of life overall. Regularisation: how residence papers help people and society - 02:09 Your browser does not support the video tag. Video library Watch our videos and animations to learn about what it means to live undocumented, and how we can change things for the better. Living undocumented in Europe - 02:44 Your browser does not support the video tag. Video library Having no, or precarious, residence status often increases the risk of experiencing abuse or exploitation. At the same time, it means having fewer options to get support and protection. What safety means for undocumented people - 03:41 Your browser does not support the video tag. Video library For children with precarious residence status, turning 18 means losing the rights they held as children and often not having a secure residence permit. Without it, they won't be able to do things like studying, working or getting a driver's license. They might have to leave wherever they were living, and risk becoming homeless. It doesn't have to be like this. We can improve residence permits and develop new ones to prevent children from becoming undocumented adults. Children and young people should be also be prepared and supported through their transition into adulthood. These children are part of our societies. Let’s make their future safe. A step into the void: the transition to adulthood of migrant children - 02:00 Your browser does not support the video tag. Video library Despite the huge demand for workforce, it’s incredibly difficult to come and work regularly in Europe. Work permits are few, and those that exist too often leave migrant workers at the mercy of exploitative employers. We can change this. More and decent work permits mean that we can answer the huge demand for workforce and respect every person’s work. Fair labour migration: why we need decent work permits in Europe - 01:53 Your browser does not support the video tag. Video library What does it mean to work without documents? Monica, Fortunat, Myriam and Rabia tell us about the exploitation they experienced as undocumented workers in Europe, and the impossibility of denouncing their abusive employers. A Worker is A Worker - 02:25 Your browser does not support the video tag. Video library Children should only be returned when a fair procedure has found it is in the best interests. A best interests procedure for the identification of durable solutions for children in migration should be put in place by all countries. To play alone - 01:57 Your browser does not support the video tag. Video library While regular and safe routes of travel into Europe are not an option, migrants are left with no choice other than to pay smugglers and risk their lives to reach Europe. Migration is not a Crime - 01:30 Your browser does not support the video tag. Recent publications Read our publications to learn about how migration policies shape our societies and the lives of undocumented people, and how they can be improved. 2026 Racial Equality Racial profiling practices at EU internal borders 2026 Detention and Deportations The new draft EU deportation law: What you need to know about the EU’s push for detection and immigration raids – and how you can mobilise against it 2026 Health Call for evidence ‘Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030’ 2026 Work Labour migration policies. Case study series: Spain 2026 Work Occupational Safety and Health of Undocumented Migrant Workers in Europe 2026 Participation and Emancipation Enabling the meaningful participation of migrants with precarious status See all publications Close Are you undocumented and do you need help? Get our latest news Subscribe to our newsletter Follow us Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Linkedin and Bluesky. About us Members Publications Join us Our work Criminalisation Children, Families and Youth Detention and Deportations Digital Technologies Gender Equality Health Housing and Anti-Poverty Justice and Policing Regularisation Work News Blogs Press Releases Fact sheets Newsletters Contact information +32 2 883 68 12 Congresstraat 37, 1000 Brussels, Belgium info@picum.org This website has been produced with the financial support of the European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Commission Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Made with conviction by MOJO Agencyenusen-US1773368560https://picum.org

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