Low-income families from developing countries often face financial constraints that prevent them from migrating together (Patel et al., 2016). When it comes to U.S. migration, compared to other immigrant families, Central American families, especially those of Salvadorean, Guatemalan, and Honduran origin, are more vulnerable to family separation, as they are more likely to be low-income and experience greater financial constraints (Lopez et al., 2018; Pottinger, 2005). While immigrant families often make sacrifices with the assumption that such family separations will allow them to provide their children a better future; unfortunately, in most cases, children end up suffering negative life outcomes as a result of their and their family’s migration experiences (Mitrani et al., 2004; Abrego, 2014). Centering on the type of family separation that occurs from being left behind in their countries of origin, and guided by Latina/o Critical Race Theory (LatCrit), Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, attachment theory, theory of ambiguous loss, legal violence, and racist nativism, the current project relied on platicas with 10 students between the ages of 12 and 20 to examine Central American immigrant students’ academic and familial experiences during separation and upon reunification in California. The findings indicated family separation’s negative effects on students’ academic and familial experiences persist after family reunification. Additionally, the migration journey, immigration related issues, socioeconomic status, and other social factors within the U.S., may also play a significant role in students’ education and familial experiences upon reunification in the U.S.

Authors:
Karen Magana, University of California, Los Angeles, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Karen Magaña is a PhD candidate at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). As a Salvadorean, her research focuses on the educational and immigration experiences of Central American immigrant students attending public schools in Los Angeles.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/maganakaren

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