On 12 February 2026, the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town submitted its comments on the Department of Home Affairs’ Revised Draft White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection. Drawing on our daily work with asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, this submission supports efforts to strengthen governance and efficiency, while raising serious concerns about proposals that may undermine constitutional rights and South Africa’s international obligations. We advocate for a pragmatic, rights-based and regionally aligned migration framework that upholds human dignity, promotes integration, and harnesses the developmental potential of migration.