The Bumpy Landscape of Family Reunification: Experiences of First- and 1.5-generation Filipinos in France

Abstract

Recent studies on immigrant families have demonstrated how the migration status of parents influences their process of family reunification. In the current context of restrictions on family-related migrations in many receiving countries, concretising their family reunification projects often appears challenging to migrant parents and their children. Aiming to shed light on the way migrant families cope with these restrictions depending on their migration status, this article examines the family reunification process of first-generation Filipino migrants in France with their '1.5-generation' offspring. Fieldwork data show that even when irregular migrant parents succeed in regularising their situation, family reunion remains difficult to them due to the complex French immigration policies. As a result, many Filipino immigrants, regardless of their migration status, turn to 'black market' channels to reunite with their children. Their family reunification process does not end with the reunion itself but continues to unfold for many years afterwards, as parents and children progressively come to terms with living together after a long separation.

Gender- and social class-based transnationalism of migrant Filipinas in binational unions

“…This emerging literature had shed light on their transnationalism from either the point of view of their receiving country or that of their country of origin. What remains largely lacking is the crossing of both viewpoints, which requires examining the 'relations between emigrants and non-migrants in the country of origin' (Carling 2008) and the 'intertemporal aspect' (Fresnoza-Flot 2015) that results from the interaction of the 'before' and the 'after' of migration.…”

Culture Clash? Investigating constructions of sexual and reproductive health from the perspective of 1.5 generation migrants in Australia using Q methodology

“…Extant research has explored 1.5 generation migrants experiences of sociocultural identity [15, 16], effects of acculturation and discrimination on mental health [17], family reunification amongst Filipinos in France [18], belonging among diasporic African communities in the UK [19] and the hybridity and interculturality of 1.5 generation Chinese migrants in New Zealand [20]. Although research related to this cohort of migrants is emerging, few studies consider the nexus between 1.5 generation status and SRH.…”

Migration, family separation and caregiving across borders

“…First, restrictive family migration policies can prolong separations (Åkesson, Carling & Drotbohm, 2012;Bernhard, Landolt & Goldring, 2009;Strik, de Hart & Nissen, 2013), incite alternative routes to family reunion (Bonizzoni, 2009;Fonseca & Ormond, 2008) and reduce the strategy of sending children to the origin country to avoid the risk of children being denied re-entry (Bledsoe et al, 2007). Post-reunification readjustments can also be problematic, especially after lengthy separations (Fresnoza-Flot, 2015). Second, legal status largely determines the ways in which migrants can care from afar.…”

“…Second, I focus on the gendered experiences with and implications of restrictive conditions for family reunification. Whereas migrant status has been given attention in literature on transnational mothering, little is known about the ways in which family reunification policies and practices of implementation impinge on migrant mothers' everyday lived experiences and family strategies (but see Bonizzoni, 2009;Fresnoza-Flot, 2015;Van Walsum, 2000, 2009a.…”

“…Fourth, like the bulk of transnational family studies, this study concentrated on family members who live geographically-dispersed, thereby failing to take into account postreunification dynamics. The few studies that explore post-reunification processes conclude that family reunion, especially after protracted separations, is often complicated due to loss of parental authority, estrangement, and difficulties in reestablishing intimate relationships (Artico, 2003;Bernhard, Goldring & Landolt, 2005;Bonizzoni, 2009;Fresnoza-Flot, 2015;Menjívar, 2012;Suárez-Orozco, Todorova & Louie, 2002). Interviews with key persons in the Ghanaian community in the Netherlands revealed that also among Ghanaian families, family reunion is often problematic after lengthy separations.…”