Who we are
de:criminalize is a collective based in Berlin and established in 2024. We support people on the move accused of steering the boat, operating the GPS, or distributing water or food during the border crossing.
Charged of “smuggling”, people are arrested, held in pretrial detention for long periods, and prosecuted in trials that lack the most basic safeguards. This happens systematically at all European borders and results in the mass imprisonment of people on the move, who are treated as perpetrators rather than as people in need of protection.
With our work, we advocate for an end to the criminalization of people on the move and unrestricted freedom of movement for all.
People accused usually have little or no financial resources and support structures in Europe and receive little public attention. Therefore, we connect them with lawyers, fundraise legal costs, maintain contact with their families, provide support in prison, accompany and document cases and court proceedings, and carry out campaigns and public advocacy.
We supported over 75 people who were criminalized in the course of their migration in the past two years.
In the absence of safe and legal pathways to migrate, unauthorised border crossings are the only way to access fundamental rights, including the right to asylum. The criminalization of migrants accused of being “smugglers” is yet another way to prevent border crossings, as well as to blame survivors for the deaths that result from deadly border policies.
Fight borders not smugglers!
We are part of a transnational network of amazing groups and organizations across Europe and beyond, working together in solidarity to fight against criminalization.
