Migrating Alone or Rejoining the Family? Implications of Migration Strategies and Family Separations for Latino Adolescents

Abstract

This qualitative study examined how adolescent migrants experience family separations following two different migration strategies: migrating to reunify with the family (serial migration) versus migrating alone as an adolescent (independent adolescent migration). Participants were 30 immigrant adolescents, ages 14 to 19 residing in the United States between 3 months to 7 years. For serial migrants, surrogate caregivers played an important role in normalizing their separation from their parents, although they experienced difficulty during reunification. Independent adolescent migrants accounts highlighted their adaptation to work, school, and changes in their family roles and obligations.