Abstract
There is a gap between the structure of trans-national illegal migration and its perception within predominant discourses. The true structure of illegal migration is mainly market-focused and, in spite of popular perceptions, regulated by various actors. However, discourse about migration operates with hysteric use of numbers, perceives migration in terms of criminality, stresses an exploitation of migrants by those helping in crossing the borders, and operates within racist ideologies. This is exemplified by the discursive identification of human smuggling and human trafficking, which de-legitimates and criminalizes escape aid. Migration is, therefore, determined by the paradigms: law, prejudice and market. The first two dominate the migration discourse, and the last structures migration patterns.