Providing—and also not providing—public services to unlawful residents implies a certain cost for host societies, and both inclusion and exclusion involve localized renegotiations of fundamental rights, legitimate needs, and social membership. Based on original qualitative research data, this article compares how, why, and under which conditions irregular migrants are granted or denied access to healthcare services provided in London and Barcelona. From a multi-level perspective and by drawing on organization theory, I highlight key differences in how the responsible governments deal with the underlying contradictions and thereby either help or hinder effective policy implementation. © 2018, © 2018 Reinhard Schweitzer. Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Irregular migration hypocrisy Public health care policy effectiveness justification Immigration control

United Kingdom England Spain immigration policy Catalonia Barcelona [Barcelona (PRV)] accessibility governance approach policy implementation health services health care service provision human rights Barcelona [Catalonia] London [England] policy analysis public health