Why does undocumented migrants’ access to healthcare beyond urgent treatment differ across the territory of the same state? Through a comparison of Italian regions and Spanish autonomous communities, the author of this paper contends that traditions of regional citizenship shape policy choices in significant ways. In particular, pre-existing norms of regional protection towards orphans, the homeless and sex workers provide building blocks that enable regional governments to protect the right of healthcare for undocumented immigrants. This argument connects migration research to the study of comparative federalism, multilevel governance and welfare.

Lorenzo Piccoli, Traditions of regional citizenship: Explaining subnational variation of the right to healthcare for undocumented immigrants, Regional Studies, 2019.