Trends and Trajectories in Family Separation among Immigrant Families in the United States

• In Event: 30617 - Immigrant Communities and Families

Abstract

In the United States, research on children’s migration remains underdeveloped. However, recent migration trends, including the increase in unaccompanied children and policies aimed at separating family members at the border underscore the importance of understanding patterns of parent-child separation during migration. Using data on foreign-born children with two foreign-born parents in the United States from the past 22 years (2000-2022), this study assesses the prevalence of children’s separation from parents during migration. Specifically, we ask whether family separation has become more or less common among immigrant children over the time period studied, whether children’s age at migration has shifted over time among those who were separated from parents, and how the trajectory of children’s migration vis-à-vis parents and siblings has changed over time. Finally, we examine variation in these patterns by children’s region of origin, taking into account significant heterogeneity in overall migration patterns during the past quarter century.

Authors

• Gabrielle Juteau, Bowling Green State University

• Jenjira Yahirun, Bowling Green State University