Who is an immigrant and who requires integration? Categorizing in European policies

Some immigrants are problematized, while others are not. As categories form the backbone of policies, they formally define (i) who is a wanted and who is an unwanted immigrant and (ii) who requires integration and who does not. Gender studies and migration and ethnic studies show how categories both construct and reproduce inequality. We argue that this critical perspective is beneficial to studies on European immigration and integration policies in order to show how inclusion and exclusion work when categories are used in the policy chain