LAUSR

We explore the nuances of living while undocumented in the Netherlands, focusing on the processes of (in)visibility and (im)mobility in the public sphere. We conceptualize (in)visibility as dialectical and multilayered, with relational, political, strategic and processual dimensions. (Im)mobility isconceptualized as a resource and is interlinked with (in)visibility. Both concepts are understood to be de fi ned by social relations, which necessitate the analytical centering of ‘ race ’ . In order to investigate the subtleties of undocumented migrants ’ public experiences, we examine how racialization is (1) embodied in prejudiced surveillance, (2) experienced by undocumented migrants as racialized individuals, and (3) resisted through the exercise of strategic (in)visibility. We argue that strategic invisibility can result in self-in fl icted immobilization due to an ampli fi ed perception of risk. Instances of strategic visibility are explored, showing the creation of discursive spaces and informal cooperation between migrant-led collectives and street-level actors. We conclude by stating that asymmetries in visibility create a di ff erent urban landscape for undocumented migrants, speci fi cally one that is limited and mined with risks.