DNA and Immigration: Social, political and ethical implications of DNA analysis for family reunification

In recent years, many countries around the world have begun to use DNA analysis to establish biological relatedness in family reunification cases. Family reunification refers to the right of family members living abroad to join relatives who hold long-term residence permits in a given country. While this right has been an integral part of many countries’ immigration policies, the current trend among host countries seems to favour more restrictive family reunification policies. Many countries are imposing stricter requirements on those applying to enter the country, requiring them to provide official documentation to prove their identities. For a number of reasons providing such information is often difficult, but even if applicants possess the required documents, the information is sometimes rejected by immigration authorities as they question the authenticity of the documents. In this context, many countries resort to DNA analysis.

The general objective of the project is to reconstruct the historical process and the institutional logic of DNA testing in a comparative and philosophically informed perspective. It will identify and analyze societal, political and ethical issues raised by the use of genetic technologies in the context of immigration policy and provide recommendations for policies and legal regulations.