Posted: May 19th, 2022

Mixed Nationalities in Families

Mixed Nationalities in Families: The Impact of Immigration Policies on Family Reunification and Stability
Families with mixed nationalities often face unique challenges in maintaining unity and stability due to changing immigration policies. When one or more family members originate from another country, the ability to live together or reunite if separated depends heavily on each individual’s citizenship status and the laws governing immigration and family sponsorship in their respective nations. More restrictive policies can strain family bonds and create prolonged or even permanent separation, with serious emotional and economic consequences.
One of the most fundamental rights often cited in support of comprehensive immigration reform is the right of immediate family members to remain together. However, current policies in many countries do not always uphold this principle in practice. Waiting periods for sponsorship applications can stretch for years, during which time spouses, parents or children may be denied the ability to work, attend school or access healthcare while apart. Some are even deported before their case is approved, disrupting families further.
Scholars point to research showing the psychological, social and economic toll of family separation. Children of deported or detained parents often experience trauma, anxiety and developmental delays. Spouses and partners separated across borders report high rates of depression. Families fractured across national lines also lose out on the mutual financial and practical support normally provided within a nuclear family structure. With rising rates of international marriage and blended heritage families, these challenges affect a significant portion of the population.
Recent studies shed light on some promising policy reforms and community programs that could help alleviate such hardships. Streamlining application processes and reducing backlogs for sponsorship visas would allow families to reunite more quickly (Cervantes et al, 2018). Expanding the definition of “immediate family” to include additional relatives like grandparents, aunts/uncles and adult children over 21 could keep more multigenerational families intact (Applied Research Center, 2011). Community support networks for separated family members provide resources and counseling during difficult periods apart (Ayón et al, 2017).
As globalization and mobility continue to increase diverse family formations, policymakers must find humane solutions balancing security with compassion and upholding the basic human right to family unity, regardless of nationality. With careful reform, governments can shape immigration systems that strengthen rather than divide loved ones across borders.
Applied Research Center. (2011). Shattered families: The perilous intersection of immigration enforcement and the child welfare system. https://www.raceforward.org/research/reports/shattered-families
Ayón, C., Gurrola, M., Salas, L. M., Androff, D., & Krysik, J. (2012). Intended and unintended consequences of the employer sanction law on Latino families. Qualitative Social Work, 12(6), 808–825. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325011435812
Cervantes, W., Ullrich, R., & Matthews, H. (2018). Our children’s fears: Immigration policy’s effects on young children. Center for Law and Social Policy. https://www.clasp.org/sites/default/files/publications/2018/05/2018_ourchildrensfears.pdf