Migrating from Central America to the United States: A Qualitative Interpretive Meta-Synthesis of individual experiences
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15839232Keywords:
migration, immigration, qualitative, meta-synthesis, social workAbstract
Immigration is woven into the fabric of the United States. More than 40 million immigrants currently live in United States, the largest group of whom are of Mexican nationality; additionally, more than 24% are from other Latin American countries (Pew Research Center, 2015). Beyond this, migration across the globe continues to be a concern for large populations impacted by climate change, violence, and poverty. While research increasingly has focused on the individual experiences of migrants, refugees, and asylees, exploration of these data at a meta level is lacking. We conducted a qualitative meta-synthesis of literature that explored the experiences of migrants from Central America coming to the United States to capture overarching experiences of this vulnerable population. Results identified 11 studies with 3 meta-themes: 1) motivation to leave, 2) perilous journey, and 3) the expected and the unexpected. Exploration of these themes identify the ways in which migrants, refugees, and asylees are impacted by their efforts to enter and remain in the United States. The social work practitioner should recognize the needs of this group and the ways in which they may be supported. Implications for direct practice and policy making are discussed with application across cultures and beyond the United States.
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