The Effect of Forced Family Separation on Immigrant Families: Policy Recommendations

• In Event: International Migration Section Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): 23. Family, intimacy, and belonging

Abstract

This project, based on a book currently in progress, examines the long-term effects of family separation on immigrant families, with a focus on couples in which one partner was undocumented and later obtained legal status. Drawing on in-depth interviews with reunited couples, who were diverse in socioeconomic status, ethnic backgrounds, and family structures, as well as the author’s own experience of two years of forced separation followed by reunification, the study explores how family trajectories unfold after legal reunification.

While reunification is often assumed to resolve the hardships of separation, findings reveal diverse outcomes. Some couples reported satisfaction and the ability to continue their lives together, despite the trauma of prior separation. Others, however, experienced persistent relational strain, with some relationships dissolving due to challenges rooted in the period of forced separation. By analyzing interviews with reunited couples alongside the author’s own experiences, this study demonstrates how forced separation produces long-term relational and emotional consequences that can persist even after legal reunification. It highlights patterns in which separation contributes to divorce, persistent conflict, or ongoing stress, as well as cases where families adapt successfully. These variations highlight that the effects of separation may extend beyond reunification, sometimes producing long-lasting or even lifelong consequences for family dynamics.

Situating these findings within broader sociological and policy contexts, the study underscores the human cost of punitive immigration policies that enforce family separation. It builds on existing literature documenting the negative effects of separation by demonstrating that reunification alone does not eliminate these impacts. The research supports calls for policy reforms aimed at preventing forced separation in the first place, advocating for approaches that preserve family integrity and promote social and emotional well-being. The study shows how sociological research can disrupt the status quo by providing evidence-based recommendations to mitigate structural inequalities, advocating for policies that protect vulnerable populations and promote a more equitable society.

Author

• Nina Michalikova, University of Central Oklahoma