Divided Families, Fractured Schooling: Children Returning from the United States to Mexico

• In Event: 549 - Thematic Session. Return Migration during Hard Times

Abstract

The paper presents findings based on a survey conducted in 2010. It uses a representative sample of students enrolled 4th to 9th grades in the school system of the state of Jalisco, Mexico (n=9,701) and compares a) children returnees (born in Mexico, moved to the U.S. and returned to Mexico), b) American-Mexican children (born in the U.S. and came to Mexico); c) non migrant children in divided families -those who have never left Mexico- but experienced family separation because of their parents’ international migration and d) non migrant children those who have never experienced family separation. The comparative analysis focus on family dispersion and school trajectories of these four categories of children. American-Mexican children and children returnees more frequently than other children lived separated from their fathers, their mothers and siblings. The paper will offer analysis about how this experience –living in divided families- impact the transnational students’ school trajectories in terms of self reported success, but also in terms of learning outcomes and school transitions (from the U. S. school to Mexican ones).

Author

• Victor A. Zuniga, Universidad de Monterrey