Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of International Migration and Integration, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
Migration research has moved beyond linear models to recognize migrants as agentic choice-makers on dynamic trajectories, yet studies in transit countries often overlook the varied experiences and agency of migrants, perceiving them as being simply in limbo or stuck. Moving beyond the established premise that migrants act strategically, this paper advances theoretical debates by identifying a dynamic typology of four trajectories—trapped aspiration, reluctant settlement, precarious survival, and aspiring integration—that represent constellations of aspirations, individual capabilities, and structural constraints. This framework captures the temporal and relational shifts in agency, illustrating how agency is not a fixed attribute but a fluctuating capacity that expands or contracts as irregular migrants navigate the specific social contexts they confront. Drawing on 74 semi-structured interviews in Turkiye and Morocco, this paper employs a grounded theory approach and an iterative coding methodology to identify key themes and patterns. While drawing on the well-established aspiration–capabilities framework, this article contributes a temporally sensitive and process-oriented understanding of agency while providing critical insights on the realities of migrants in transit.